Easterday Ranches Inc., Stockwater Exemption issues under the Groundwater Code

The Department of Ecology has approved the April 9, 2009, decision of the Franklin County Water Conservancy Board to transfer the former Pepiot water right to the Easterday Ranches Inc., feedlot northeast of Eltopia in Franklin County.

The 316-acre feet of water annually from the former Pepiot water right northwest of the feedlot will provide Easterday with 250 acre-feet of groundwater for dust control, stock cooling and other associated feedlot uses plus 66 acre-feet for stock drinking purposes.

Easterday intends to withdraw additional groundwater for stock watering at the feedlot under the state groundwater code's exemption from water right permitting for stockwatering purposes.

Ecology's approval of the water right transfer IS NOT an endorsement of Easterday's use of the stockwatering exemption. This page provides the background and examines the issues surrounding the use of the stockwatering exemption by commercial feedlots and others in Washington state. Ecology is currently seeking legislation to clarify the uses of the exemption.

Background

Stockwater Exemption

February 17, 2009 Letter from Jay Manning - "Over the past several months there has been some controversy, several media stories and now legislative hearings on the so-called "stockwater exemption" under the groundwater code. This exemption, enacted in 1945, exempts from water right permitting certain small uses of water. One of those is stockwatering."....
AGO 2005 No. 17 Water - Water Rights - Department of Ecology - Rules and Regulations - Interpretation of statutory language exempting withdrawals of groundwater for stock-watering from permitting requirements.