Publication Summary

Substitute House Bill 1272 was passed unanimously in the 1997 legislative session (chapter 90.80 RCW). Copies of the legislation and the law in revised code format are included as appendices to this report. The law encourages voluntary water right transfers by enabling county governments to initiate the establishment of water conservancy boards. These boards are empowered to consider and conditionally approve applications to transfer water. However, the final decision to approve, condition or deny the transfer remains with the Department of Ecology. Through this process a partnership is established between Ecology and the local boards to facilitate transfers and changes of water rights.