News Releases
Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - May 10, 2001
Contact:  Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136

Locke signs landmark water bill

OLYMPIA - Gov. Gary Locke today signed the first comprehensive water legislation in 30 years, breaking the decades' old logjam on water reform.

Legislative leaders and committee chairs who worked hard to pass ESHB 1832 joined the governor at the Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge for the bill signing. Others representing water interests for people, farms and fish also joined in the ceremony.

"A collective effort is resulting in a collective success for water reform," Locke said as he thanked the senators and representatives, Democratic and Republican, who passed the legislation. "The end result is the water bill I sign today is a better package than we first proposed, helping us respond to the drought and prepare for the future."

Locke specifically thanked committee chairs Rep. Kelli Linville, Rep. Gary Chandler, Sen. Karen Fraser and Sen. Bob Morton, along with legislative leadership.

The legislation contained in ESHB 1832 will:

Create two lines for water-right applications - one for new rights and one for changing or transferring water rights. This will speed up the long line of 7,000 requests. Those people stuck in line shouldn't have to wait years for a simple, non-controversial transfer of a water permit.

Allow local water conservancy boards to process all types of water-right changes and transfers and makes them more efficient and accountable to the public.

Create a tax incentive for water utilities to conserve and reuse water.

Revise the 1977 Family Farm Act, allowing family farm water permits in urban growth areas, or within city limits, to be converted to other uses - for homes, businesses and cities.

Put firm timelines in place to get stream flows set - something that is vital to saving fish and providing certainty about how much water is available for farms and growing communities.

Encourage donations of water to improve stream flows and benefit fish, through a trust water rights program. Donors don't risk losing their water right, and their donations are tax deductible.

"Water legislation without funding is inadequate. In the end, the Legislature must deliver on the budget and not leave the job half done," Locke said.

It will take several years to meet the state's economic and environmental needs for water. The governor asked lawmakers for their continued support in crafting proposals for the next legislative session.

Locke cited his three key objectives for 2002:

Define and implement a strategy for meeting the needs of fish. Move beyond just setting minimum stream flows - and actually achieve those flows.

Address the water needs of growing communities. Public water systems must have the certainty and flexibility to serve growth and maintain a healthy economy, while also meeting their environmental obligations.

Fix the outdated "use it or lose it" policies to ensure that water users have better incentives to save water.

"I am asking that we address requirements and incentives to conserve and reuse water. And I am asking that we define and implement a new water storage program. Storage of excess water during our wet season can help us meet most of our goals for water," Locke said.

The governor proposed a collaborative, bipartisan effort to move forward on 2002 water policy changes beginning this summer.
Related Links:
- Washington's Water
- Washington Water: Making Every Drop Count


» Return to this month's News Releases
» View News Release Archive

Access Washington