Title 90, Title 90 WATER RIGHTS—ENVIRONMENT
31 chapters · 660 sections in this title.
RCW 90.54.005 Findings—Objectives—2002 c 329.
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The legislature recognizes the critical importance of providing and securing sufficient water to meet the needs of people, farms, and fish. The legislature finds that an effective way to meet the water needs of people, farms, and fish is through strategies developed and implement…
RCW 90.54.010 Purpose.
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(1) The legislature finds that:(a) Proper utilization of the water resources of this state is necessary to the promotion of public health and the economic well-being of the state and the preservation of its natural resources and aesthetic values. Although water is a renewable res…
RCW 90.54.020 General declaration of fundamentals for utilization and management of waters of the state.
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Utilization and management of the waters of the state shall be guided by the following general declaration of fundamentals:(1) Uses of water for domestic, stock watering, industrial, commercial, agricultural, irrigation, hydroelectric power production, mining, fish and wildlife m…
RCW 90.54.030 Water and related resources—Department to be advised—Water resources data program.
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For the purpose of ensuring that the department is fully advised in relation to the performance of the water resources program provided in RCW 90.54.040, the department is directed to become informed with regard to all phases of water and related resources of the state. To accomp…
RCW 90.54.035 State funding of water resource programs—Priorities.
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(1) State funding of water resource, supply, and quality related capital programs, both current and future, shall, to the maximum extent possible within state or federal legal requirements, be directed to assist in the resolution of current conflicts and implementation of regiona…
RCW 90.54.040 Comprehensive state water resources program—Modifying existing and adopting new regulations and statutes.
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(1) The department, through the adoption of appropriate rules, is directed, as a matter of high priority to insure that the waters of the state are utilized for the best interests of the people, to develop and implement in accordance with the policies of this chapter a comprehens…
RCW 90.54.045 Water resource planning—Pilot process—Report to the legislature.
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(1) In the development and implementation of the comprehensive state water resources program required in RCW 90.54.040(1), the process described therein shall involve participation of appropriate state agencies, Indian tribes, local governments, and interested parties, and shall …
RCW 90.54.050 Setting aside or withdrawing waters—Rules—Consultation with legislative committees—Public hearing, notice—Review.
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In conjunction with the programs provided for in RCW 90.54.040(1), whenever it appears necessary to the director in carrying out the policy of this chapter, the department may by rule adopted pursuant to chapter 34.05 RCW:(1) Reserve and set aside waters for beneficial utilizatio…
RCW 90.54.060 Department to seek involvement of other persons and entities, means—Assistance grants.
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To insure that all of the various persons and entities having an interest in the water resources of the state and the programs of the chapter are provided with a full opportunity for involvement not only with the development of the program but the implementation by the department…
RCW 90.54.080 State to vigorously represent its interests before federal agencies, interstate agencies.
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The state shall vigorously represent its interest before water resource regulation, management, development, and use agencies of the United States, including among others the federal power commission, environmental protection agency, army corps of engineers, department of the int…
RCW 90.54.090 State, local governments, municipal corporations to comply with chapter.
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All agencies of state and local government, including counties and municipal and public corporations, shall, whenever possible, carry out powers vested in them in manners which are consistent with the provisions of this chapter.[ 1987 c 505 s 82; 1977 c 75 s 95; 1971 ex.s. c 225 …
RCW 90.54.100 Department to evaluate needs for projects and alternative methods of financing.
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The department of ecology shall as a matter of high priority evaluate the needs for water resource development projects and the alternative methods of financing of the same by public and private agencies, including financing by federal, state and local governments and combination…
RCW 90.54.110 Authority to secure and obtain benefits, including grants.
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The department of ecology is authorized to obtain the benefits including acceptance of grants, of any program of the federal government or any other source to carry out the provisions of this chapter and is empowered to take such actions as are necessary and appropriate to secure…
RCW 90.54.120 "Department," "utilize," and "utilization" defined.
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For the purposes of this chapter, unless the context is clearly to the contrary, the following definitions shall be used:(1) "Department" means department of ecology.(2) "Utilize" or "utilization" shall not only mean use of water for such long recognized consumptive or nonconsump…
RCW 90.54.130 Land use management policy modifications—Advisory recommendations.
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The department of ecology may recommend land use management policy modifications it finds appropriate for the further protection of ground and surface water resources in this state. Such advisory recommendations may be made to other state regulatory agencies, local governments, w…
RCW 90.54.140 Protection of groundwater aquifers if sole drinking water source.
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The legislature hereby declares that the protection of groundwater aquifers which are the sole drinking water source for a given jurisdiction shall be of the uppermost priority of the state department of ecology, department of social and health services, and all local government …
RCW 90.54.150 Water supply projects—Cooperation with other agencies—Scope of participation.
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When feasible, the department of ecology shall cooperate with the United States and other public entities, including Indian tribes, in the planning, development, and operation of comprehensive water supply projects designed primarily to resolve controversies and conflicts over wa…
RCW 90.54.160 Department to report on dam safety.
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The department of ecology shall report to the legislature on the last working day of December of 1984, 1985, and 1986, and thereafter as deemed appropriate by the department, on dam facilities that exhibit safety deficiencies sufficient to pose a significant threat to the safety …
RCW 90.54.170 Electric generation facility—Evaluation of application to appropriate water.
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In addition to other requirements of this chapter, when the proposed water resource development project involves a new water supply combined with an electric generation facility where such electricity generated may be sold to an entity authorized by law to distribute electricity,…
RCW 90.54.180 Water use efficiency and conservation programs and practices.
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Consistent with the fundamentals of water resource policy set forth in this chapter, state and local governments, individuals, corporations, groups and other entities shall be encouraged to carry out water use efficiency and conservation programs and practices consistent with the…
RCW 90.54.191 Streamflow restoration a priority.
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The department shall prioritize the expenditure of funds and other resources for programs related to streamflow restoration in watersheds where the exercise of inchoate water rights may have a larger effect on streamflows and other water uses.[ 2003 1st sp.s. c 5 s 10.]Notes:Seve…
RCW 90.54.210 Department shall act on water rights applications that rely on reservations of water established in WAC 173-518-080 or 173-545-090.
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(1) The department shall act on all water rights applications that rely on the reservations of water established in WAC 173-518-080 or 173-545-090, as those provisions existed on March 31, 2016. The legislature declares that the reservations of water established in WAC 173-518-08…
RCW 90.54.800 Policy guidelines.
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Future development of hydropower and protection of river-related resources shall be guided by policies and programs which:(1) Create opportunities for balanced development of cost-effective and environmentally sound hydropower projects by a range of development interests;(2) Prot…
RCW 90.54.900 Certain rights, authority, not to be affected by chapter.
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Nothing in this chapter shall affect any existing water rights, riparian, appropriative, or otherwise; nor shall it affect existing rights relating to the operation of any hydroelectric or water storage reservoir or related facility; nor shall it affect any exploratory work, cons…
RCW 90.54.910 Short title.
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This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Water Resources Act of 1971".[ 1971 ex.s. c 225 s 14.]
RCW 90.54.920 Rights not impaired.
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(1) Nothing in this act shall affect or operate to impair any existing water rights.(2) Nothing in this act shall be used to prevent future storage options, recognizing that storage may be necessary as a method of conserving water to meet both instream and out-of-stream needs.(3)…