Warnick's bill lets farmers keep water
OLYMPIA - The Washington State Senate adopted a measure amending the current "use it or lose it" law for people waiting for answers on water rights changes.
The bill's sponsor, Rep. Judy Warnick, R-Moses Lake, said she was pleased with the unanimous support by both Republicans and Democrats as well as the support from regional tribes and the Department of Ecology.
"This is common-sense legislation to encourage water conservation and I'm pleased the Senate passed the bill," she stated.
The House adopted the measure last year but it stalled in the Senate. Several groups expressed support for the bill after it passed the House again in January, including the Farm Bureau, the Washington State Horticultural Association, the Muckleshoot Tribe, Washington Water Policy Alliance and Department of Ecology.
The Yakama Nation, American Rivers and the Department of Ecology were opposed to the legislation last year as it moved through the House.
"We must continue work to encourage conservation in our water laws, not motivate water rights holders to use all of their water unless they want to lose their entire water right," Warnick stated. "Landowners shouldn't be penalized for simply waiting in line for an answer on a water rights change. I look forward to updating other parts of water law which are unfair to landowners."
The bill now goes to the governor for her signature.
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