Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - October 23, 2001
Contact:  Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136
Alt Contact:  Sandi Peck, Governor’s Office, 360-902-2229

Locke calls for support on water funding strategy

TACOMA — Gov. Gary Locke today asked the Legislature and stakeholders to work with him to address water policy initiatives including programs for water storage, safety and conservation, agriculture efficiency and fish.

The governor addressed water strategy at a noontime speech to the state’s Joint Executive-Legislative Water Policy Group meeting in Tacoma.

“Throughout the world, the availability of water will define economic success in the 21st century,” Locke said. “Water is an instrument of power and access to water provides the competitive edge for us to thrive and prosper. In brief, water is synonymous with progress.”

In asking for cooperation from the Legislature and stakeholders, the governor said the state needs “to embrace all of the tools – storage, efficiency and reuse – to help satisfy our water needs.”

The governor outlined the water initiatives he is considering. These include funding for:

• Improved public health and safety, as well as municipal and business conservation and reuse
  
  
• Agriculture efficiency and water-quality improvements
  
  
• Increased water storage and conveyance
  
  
• Water for fish
  
  
• Implementation of regional and watershed-management plans – individually tailored and citizen-based.
  

He asked the Legislature and stakeholders to consider water policy initiatives including a collaborative approach on a pay-as-you-go funding mechanism over a 20-year period.

Referring to the meaningful water reform in the 2001 legislative session, the governor pledged to work with legislative leaders from both parties in both houses to build on the last session’s successes.

“It’s been over a quarter century since we made substantial investments in our water management system,” Locke stated. “It is time to act. These issues are not Republican issues; they are not Democratic issues. They affect every community and river in Washington state.”

“My goal is to report to the people of the state that we are managing our way through tough times while taking a major step to provide for our long-term safety, our long-term security and our long-term success,” the governor concluded.

The Joint Executive-Legislative Water Policy Group was established to develop water legislation for the 2002 legislative session to get water to the farms, cities and homes that need it without drying up lakes, rivers and streams that support fish and other aquatic life.

Today’s Tacoma conference marks the water group’s second meeting. The group plans to draft legislation by December.

Members of the policy group include: Sens. Karen Fraser (D-Olympia), Bob Morton (R-Orient), Debbie Regala (D-Tacoma) and Jim Honeyford (R-Sunnyside), Reps. Gary Chandler (R-Moses Lake), Kelli Linville (D-Bellingham), Steve Kirby (D-Tacoma) and Bruce Chandler (R-Zillah), Tom Fitzsimmons, director of the state Department of Ecology, Curt Smitch, Locke’s natural-resource advisor, and Jim Waldo, Locke’s water-policy advisor.

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Related Links:
- Water 2002: Joint Executive-Legislative Water Policy Group
- Washington's Water
- Washington State Legislature
- Washington State Department of Ecology

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