FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- April 7, 1999 Senate hears new public water supply and fish habitat bills
OLYMPIA - In a continuing effort to address the growing water needs for people and fish, the Senate Environmental Quality & Water Resources Committee listened to public testimony Tuesday on three proposals seeking to balance needs for public water supply and in-stream flows for fish habitat.
"With all the different local, state, and federal water laws, it's getting harder to share water on a regional basis - especially with the expected growth in our region and the need for heightened sensitivity for water needs of salmon," said Sen. Karen Fraser, D-Lacey, committee chair.
"This was an opportunity to allow public water suppliers and the public to comment on proposals intended to create a more flexible process that would allow them to better share water within a region, for people and fish."
The hearing was another part of the Legislature's process of crafting a salmon recovery plan in the face of federal Endangered Species Act listings.
Representatives from local governments, tribes, and business and environmental groups testified on three bills, which would make changes in provisions relating to public water supply management and meeting in-stream flows.
Municipal water rights typically are developed as the communities that they serve grow. Most often, they do not initially use all the water their permit allows. However, many believe that recent Washington Supreme Court decisions have cast into doubt whether public watersuppliers can be treated differently from other water rights holders, who must "use or lose" their right, and who cannot transfer a right that hasn't been used.
Yet in the face of forecasted growth and development, many municipalities want to be able to use or sell unused water rights to other water suppliers within their region.
The measures propose different approaches for developing and transferring this previously unused water while simultaneously addressing fish habitat and streamflow. Here's a brief description of the bills:
SB 6091 - Allows a public water supplier to "grow into" its water right on an incremental basis while meeting fish needs. Development would be subject to need, consistent with land use plans and conservation and streamflow protections.
SB 6092 - Establishes a new structure and process, called a Regional Integrated Water Supply Management Agreement, for moving water around a given region. Allows public water suppliers flexibility to develop a water management agreement on a regional basis, and establish and contribute to in-stream flows, with approval of the Dept. of Ecology.
SB 6093 - Modifies existing coordinated public water supply planning. This process is currently used in regions across the state to ensure a good supply of drinking water, and guide the development of municipal water rights. Under this bill, consideration for the water needs of fish would also be addressed.
Fraser said she does not expect any of the bills to move through the
legislative process individually. Rather, elements that achieve broad support would be incorporated as a component of a more comprehensive water bill.
###
For more information: Courtney Schrieve, (360) 786-7569 For interviews: Sen. Karen Fraser, (360) 786-7642
This page created and maintained by Chehalis River Council
Send comments or questions to the: Chehalis River Council