U.S. Water News Online
OLYMPIA -- A bill proposing a web of water policy changes in the state of Washington is lawmakers' latest attempt to mollify cities, farmers and other big water users, while simultaneously encouraging conservation.
The bill would allow farmers to donate unused water without giving up their water rights. It would set the amount of water that must remain in streams to support fish migration and also would guarantee municipal water providers that any unused rights would be protected. It also encourages new storage and safe drinking water systems.
The House Agriculture and Ecology Committee convened a night hearing to take comments on House Bill 2993, sponsored by Rep. Kelli Linville, D-Bellingham.
The measure is the brainchild of Gov. Gary Locke's Water Policy Group -- made up of eight legislators, two of Locke's advisers and the Department of Ecology director -- created to develop sweeping water policy reform.
In recent years, lawmakers have done little to reform water laws. A law was passed last year to make it easier for people to change or transfer existing water rights. It also allows people to donate their water back into streams and rivers, without fear of losing the water right.
This year, Locke made water reform one of his key issues for the Legislature to address.
Linville's bill is an attempt to give existing stakeholders enough flexibility to sustain commercial and residential growth while maintaining enough water in streams for fish.
Water purveyors are lobbying to retain control over unused portions of their rights so they are available for any growth cities may have.
Farmers contend that the state's current ``use it or lose it'' laws are too restrictive and actually discourage farmers from conserving. State law dictates water rights be relinquished and put back into streams if the users are not putting the resource to a beneficial use.
The proposal emphasizes maintaining water levels in rivers and streams, but does little to satisfy the agriculture industry, said Dean Boyer of the Washington Farm Bureau.
``This would create a senior water right for fish that would make people and their needs secondary at all times,'' Boyer said before the hearing. ``This definitely puts fish over farmers.''
Environmental groups argue that the laws, while adequate, are loosely regulated and allow farmers to consume more water than necessary, therefore leaving insufficient stream levels to sustain fish.
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