READ FIRST TIME 02/07/08.   

     AN ACT Relating to the interwatershed transfer of water rights; and creating new sections.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature finds that interwatershed water rights transfers pose a threat to the economic and social welfare of rural communities. Because it is increasingly difficult for water users to acquire new water rights, transfers are indeed a valuable and necessary water management tool. However, the permanent transfer of water rights away from Washington's rural communities has serious economic and social impacts. Although a rural water rights holder receives compensation for transferring water rights outside of a watershed, third parties such as laborers and supporting businesses suffer. The loss of water rights also reduces land use options and property values, resulting in a shrinking revenue base for rural local governments. Finally, the loss of water rights can permanently change the character of agricultural land and the surrounding rural community. Therefore, the legislature intends to protect rural communities from the permanent and harmful impacts of interwatershed water rights transfers.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   The department of ecology must work diligently with appropriate legislators, stakeholders, representatives of appropriate tribal interests, and local governments within water resource inventory areas 43, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, and 62 to assess the impacts of interwatershed transfers and existing water sources, including snowpack and potential new water sources, in order to protect the economic and social welfare of rural communities. The department of ecology must submit a report, including detailed legislative and policy recommendations, to the appropriate committees of the legislature by November 1, 2008.