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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Nov. 5, 1998
98-188
CONTACT: Mary Getchell, Public Information Manager, (360) 407-6157,
pager, (360) 534-8590
Peggy Clifford, Rules Coordinator, (360) 407-7262
OLYMPIA - The Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology) is hosting a public workshop on a proposal to have county governments process some decisions involving how people use water through water rights.
A law established by the state legislature in 1997 allows counties to establish local water boards to process water right applications for changes to existing water right permits, certificates or claims. A water right change may include the place where water is used, the location where water is withdrawn or diverted, adding points where water is withdrawn or diverted from a lake or stream, or changing the purpose of the water right (e.g., from irrigation to domestic use).
Under the law, Ecology approves the local water conservancy boards and oversees water right determinations the boards may make. Ecology has proposed a "pilot" rule to test the new law in Lewis and Benton counties.
"We look at the Conservancy Board as a community service. We have a lot of agricultural and community interests in Lewis County which need water right decisions," said Russ Wigley, chairperson for Lewis County Commissioners. "Conservancy Boards are an excellent way to perhaps help move forward on water right change decisions."
Ecology is holding a workshop in Chehalis to provide information about the pilot program. The workshop is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 12, at the Lewis County Courthouse Annex, Meeting Room #2, 351 NW North Street.
Approximately 6,000 water right permits statewide are awaiting decisions by Ecology. About 23 percent of the applications are changes to existing water rights. Under the new law, local governments could be given the authority to process decisions for some of the applicants.
"We want to get citizens' and local governments' ideas and opinions on how best to involve county governments in processing water right change applications," said Keith Phillips, Ecology's Water Resources Program manager. "Conservancy boards are a very nice balance toward our goal of watershed management and managing water at the local government level."
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
