Publication Summary

Title

FAQ: Water Right Claims

Month-Year PublishedFebruary 1997
Revised onFebruary 2006
Online Availability
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Short Description

This publication briefly addresses the history of water law in Washington State, including the Claims Registration Act, and answers the most frequently asked questions about the claims registration process.

(Also see abstract below)
Publication Number97-2022-S&WR
Author(s)Geller, Lynne
Print Availability
Request from the program.
Number of pages 5
Keywords beneficial use, Claims Registration Act, code, codes, land owner, law, property owner, registration, right, water, water right, water right claim, Water Rights
Related Web ContentWater Right Information
Related Publications TitleRelationship    
Focus on: Assessing Your Water RightRelated publication
The 1997 Opening of the Water Right Claims Registrysimilar topic
Abstract Long Description

This publication briefly addresses the history of water law in Washington State, including the Claims Registration Act, and answers the most frequently asked questions about the claims registration process.

A claim filed under the Claims Registration Act is not a water right and does not authorize the use of water. A water right claim is only a statement of the beneficial use of water. Beneficial use is the reasonable quantity of water that has been applied to a specific type of use, i.e. domestic, irrigation, etc., prior to the adoption of the water codes (1917 for surface water and 1945 for ground water) or from exempt ground water uses and are not authorized by a state-issued permit or certificate.

This page last updated November 4, 2009