BILL REQ. #:  S-4523.1 

Read first time 01/22/08.   Referred to Committee on Water, Energy & Telecommunications.

     AN ACT Relating to encouraging efficient use of water by eliminating the partial relinquishment of water rights; amending RCW 90.14.130, 90.14.160, 90.14.170, and 90.14.180; and creating a new section.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature finds that the efficient use of water is beneficial to the environment and helps ease pressure for a scarce resource. Therefore, the legislature declares that eliminating disincentives to the efficient use of water is critical to the future of Washington to deal with issues such as the potential impacts of climate change and to help make currently allocated water supplies go further.

Sec. 2   RCW 90.14.130 and 1987 c 109 s 13 are each amended to read as follows:
     When it appears to the department of ecology that a person entitled to the use of water has not beneficially used his or her water right ((or some portion thereof,)) and it appears that said right has or may have reverted to the state because of such nonuse, as provided by RCW 90.14.160, 90.14.170, or 90.14.180, the department of ecology shall notify such person by order: PROVIDED, That where a company, association, district, or the United States has filed a blanket claim under the provisions of RCW 90.14.060 for the total benefits of those served by it, the notice shall be served on such company, association, district or the United States and not upon any of its individual water users who may not have used the water ((or some portion thereof)) which they were entitled to use. The order shall contain: (1) A description of the water right, including the approximate location of the point of diversion, the general description of the lands or places where such waters were used, the water source, the amount involved, the purpose of use, and the apparent authority upon which the right is based; (2) a statement that unless sufficient cause be shown on appeal the water right will be declared relinquished; and (3) a statement that such order may be appealed to the pollution control hearings board. Any person aggrieved by such an order may appeal it to the pollution control hearings board pursuant to RCW 43.21B.310. The order shall be served by registered or certified mail to the last known address of the person and be posted at the point of division or withdrawal. The order by itself shall not alter the recipient's right to use water, if any.

Sec. 3   RCW 90.14.160 and 1981 c 291 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) Any person entitled to divert or withdraw waters of the state through any appropriation authorized by enactments of the legislature prior to enactment of chapter 117, Laws of 1917, or by custom, or by general adjudication, who abandons the same, or who voluntarily fails, without sufficient cause, to beneficially use ((all or any part of)) said right to divert or withdraw for any period of five successive years after July 1, 1967, shall relinquish such right ((or portion thereof,)) and said right ((or portion thereof)) shall revert to the state, and the waters affected by said right shall become available for appropriation in accordance with RCW 90.03.250.
     (2) For purposes of this section, a person shall not be deemed to have voluntarily failed to beneficially use said water right if the person has continued to use at least a portion of said right for the established purpose of use.

Sec. 4   RCW 90.14.170 and 1967 c 233 s 17 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) Any person entitled to divert or withdraw waters of the state by virtue of his or her ownership of land abutting a stream, lake, or watercourse, who abandons the same, or who voluntarily fails, without sufficient cause, to beneficially use ((all or any part of)) said right to withdraw or divert said water for any period of five successive years after July 1, 1967, shall relinquish such right ((or portion thereof,)) and such right ((or portion thereof)) shall revert to the state, and the waters affected by said right shall become available for appropriation in accordance with the provisions of RCW 90.03.250.
     (2) For purposes of this section, a person shall not be deemed to have voluntarily failed to beneficially use said water right if the person has continued to use at least a portion of said right for the established purpose of use.

Sec. 5   RCW 90.14.180 and 1987 c 109 s 101 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) Any person hereafter entitled to divert or withdraw waters of the state through an appropriation authorized under RCW 90.03.330, 90.44.080, or 90.44.090 who abandons the same, or who voluntarily fails, without sufficient cause, to beneficially use ((all or any part of)) said right to withdraw for any period of five successive years shall relinquish such right ((or portion thereof,)) and such right ((or portion thereof)) shall revert to the state, and the waters affected by said right shall become available for appropriation in accordance with RCW 90.03.250. All certificates hereafter issued by the department of ecology pursuant to RCW 90.03.330 shall expressly incorporate this section by reference.
     (2) For purposes of this section, a person shall not be deemed to have voluntarily failed to beneficially use said water right if the person has continued to use at least a portion of said right for the established purpose of use.