If You Think You Have an Unclaimed Right to Water in Washington -- Act Now

Washington State Department of Ecology

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - August 14, 1997

97-144

CONTACT: Joe Stohr (360) 407-6653
Mary Getchell (360) 407-6157, Pager (360) 534-8590

If You Think You Have an Unclaimed Right to Water in Washington -- Act Now

Olympia, WA - If you are a property owner in Washington state and don't have a water right or you haven't previously filed a claim, now may be the time for you to act. There are specific criteria that make people eligible to file claims, such as where they get their water, for how long they've been using their water and how much water they use. Beginning September 1, 1997 and ending June 30, 1998, the Washington Department of Ecology will accept claims to water rights in our state.

"It is important to understand that filing a water claim in no way gives a person a water right or amnesty for illegally using water," said Keith Phillips, Ecology's manager for the Water Resources Program. "Opening the claims registry is very significant because it will provide us a chance to work directly with people who have questions about water rights, and it will give us a more complete picture of water use in our state. When Governor Locke signed the Water Right Claims Registry bill into law this year, he did so with the hope that it would clear up the 'murky past' of water right claims and put an end to the confusion of who should file a claim."

People should file a water right claim if they meet one or both of the following criteria:

If they or a previous landowner have been using water from a lake, river or stream, prior to 1917, and have used it continuously since that time; or
If they or a previous landowner have been using more than 5,000 gallons of ground water per day, prior to 1945, and have used it continuously since that time.

It's also important to point out there are several reasons a person should not file a claim. For example, you do not need to file a claim if you already have an existing water right permit or certificate, or you filed a Statement of Claim previously. In addition, you do not need to file a claim if you own a home or part of a group of homes using less than 5,000 gallons of ground water a day.

Filing a claim is just one step toward possibly getting a water right permit. The next step would be for Ecology or a citizen to file a petition with the Washington State Superior Court. Then, the Superior Court would conduct a general water right adjudication to determine the validity of the claim. The court may direct Ecology to issue water rights in response to some claims.

Last week, Ecology set-up a toll-free telephone service to provide information about the claims process. Already, more than 350 people have called.

This is the fourth time in 28 years the legislature has directed the opening of the claims registry. Between 1969 and 1974, citizens filed a total of 165,000 claims. Only a portion of these claims have been adjudicated.

During the next several months Ecology will continue to provide information to the public and media about the claims registry process. For further information on how to file a claim or to determine if you should file a claim, contact Ecology's toll-free number for Water Right Claims Assistance: 1-800-468-0261.