Water Rights Workshops

Department of Ecology News Release - Jan. 4, 2001
How should water rights be administered in Washington?
OLYMPIA - The Department of Ecology (Ecology) is hosting five public
workshops around the state to get ideas from people about what should be
included in a new regulation that would direct how the department
administers water rights.
Some background
Water rights are the mechanism to allow people, cities, farmers, parks and
industries to legally use water. For example, cities and housing
developments have water rights to provide water to homes and parks, farmers
have water rights to irrigate crops and industries have water rights to run
manufacturing facilities.
Since 1917, Washington state has issued water right permits that allow
people to install pipes or wells to withdraw water from lakes, streams and
underground aquifers. Once the water has been put to use in accordance with
the permit, Ecology (the agency now responsible for issuing water rights)
issues water right certificates.
Today, citizens and organizations hold approximately 65,000 water right
permits and certificates. In addition, approximately 5,300 communities and
businesses have applied for new permits.
Proposal to change how water rights are administered
Over time, the way water rights are issued and managed has changed.
According to Keith Phillips, who manages Ecology's water-resources program,
the department wants to talk with people about how best to develop a rule
for administering and managing of water right permits.
"Consistency, clarity and predictability are key to how Ecology administers
water rights," said Phillips. "Communities, businesses and others who supply
water to people, businesses and farms in our state deserve predictability."
A goal of the regulation is to provide guidance to Ecology staff,
water-right permit holders and applicants on how the agency administers
water rights. The proposed rule is a first step toward replacing the current
rule that is outdated and incomplete, said Phillips.
"The current rule does not reflect more than 30 years of legislative and
case laws," said Phillips. "We need to catch up with the times."
Ecology is considering proposals that would apply to: requests to extend the
development of a permit; how water rights are evaluated; what is necessary
to show water has been legally put to use; and how to correct past
administrative errors.
People are encouraged to participate at public workshops that will begin
next week.
SPOKANE 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 9, at Spokane Community College, Big Foot
Rm., N. 1810 Greene St.
TRI-CITIES 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 10, at Ecology's Kennewick Office,
1315 W. 4th Ave.
WENATCHEE 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 11, at Wenatchee City Hall council
chambers, 129 S. Chelan
EVERETT 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 17, at Everett Community College,
Jackson Center Conf. Rm., 801 Wetmore Ave.
LACEY 9:30 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 19, at the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service,
Sawyer Hall, 510 Desmond Dr.
Written comments and ideas on what should be covered in the proposed rule
may be submitted by Jan. 31 to Steve Hirschey, Department of Ecology, P.O.
Box 47600, Olympia, Wash., 98504-7600, or via e-mail at
 shir461@ecy.wa.gov.
Ecology will work with its Water Resources Advisory Committee and other
interested groups and citizens with the goal of adopting a rule by the
summer of 2001.

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