Title 87, IRRIGATION

The state auditor shall audit the books, records and affairs of the board of control every two years, or at such other times as the board shall request, and the costs of the audit shall be paid by said board. [ 1945 c 163 s 3; Rem. Supp. 1945 s 7525-42.]

Each irrigation district which has or hereafter may enter into a contract with the United States providing for the operation and maintenance, by means of a board of control, of irrigation works used in common with other districts, shall include in the annual levy of assessments a…

Any irrigation district, city, town, or other water user or users whose lands are irrigated by water carried in works transferred by the United States to a board of control, are hereby authorized to enter into contract with another irrigation district whose lands are irrigated by…

Any irrigation district, city, town, or other water user or users whose lands are irrigated by water carried in works transferred by the United States to a board of control are hereby authorized to enter into contract with the board of control for the operation and maintenance of…

Any such board of control shall have authority to be exercised by a majority of the voting power of the board to sell at such price and upon such terms as may be fixed by said board and any real or personal property owned by the board of control and to authorize the execution by …

The directors of the several irrigation districts in the state shall take such action as they deem necessary to effect coordination of their common programs for the economical and efficient operation of their districts and the reclamation of lands therein, and prepare reports ann…

The directors of such irrigation districts may designate a statewide association dedicated to the promotion of irrigated agriculture as a coordinating agency in the execution of the duties imposed by this chapter, and pay dues or assessments, or both, to the association from dist…

The board of directors of the several districts may effect the state organization herein contemplated and take such further and other action in behalf of their respective districts as they deem necessary to carry out the intent of this chapter, including support of and attendance…

To avoid duplication of effort the state association may, in the discretion of its officers, affiliate and cooperate with other organizations and agencies engaged in the furthering of reclamation of lands in the state and make financial contributions to them for such purpose. In …

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter. (1) "Area of jurisdiction" means all lands within the exterior boundary of the composite area served by the irrigation entities that comprise the board of joint control a…

A board of joint control may be created as provided in this chapter to administer: (1) The construction, operation, maintenance, betterments, and regulations of the joint use facilities, including reservoirs, canals, hydroelectric facilities within the works of the irrigation wat…

(1) For the purpose of creating a board of joint control a petition signed by two or more entities that are owners of or hold an ownership interest in water rights having the same source of water or use common works for the diversion, transportation, or drainage of all or any par…

The petition for the creation of a board of joint control shall be addressed to the board of county commissioners, shall describe generally the relationship, if any, of the irrigation entities to an established federal reclamation project, the primary waterworks of the entities i…

Upon the filing of a petition for the creation of a board of joint control the board of county commissioners at a regular meeting or at a special meeting shall examine the petition and, if found regular in form, shall accept the same for filing, and shall fix a time and place for…

Notice of the hearing on the petition shall be given by the clerk of the board of county commissioners by publishing the same, at the cost of the board of control, if created, otherwise at the cost of the petitioners, in the official newspaper of each county containing lands irri…

The notice of the hearing on the petition shall state that a petition requesting the creation of a board of joint control to administer the facilities and activities, naming them if named in the petition, has been filed with the board of county commissioners of the county, naming…

The board of county commissioners, at the time and place mentioned in the notice of hearing or at the time or times to which the hearing on said petition may be adjourned, shall proceed to hear the petition and all evidence submitted against and in support of the same. The board …

If the board of county commissioners determine[s] that the creation of a board of joint control is in the public interest, of benefit to the irrigation entities and individual water uses within those entities concerned, and will not be detrimental to water right interests outside…

The principal office and place of business of the board of joint control shall be at a place to be designated by the board in the county in which the board was created. Each member of the board before entering on the duties of his or her office shall subscribe a written oath for …

In the month of March, or another time as determined by the board of joint control, in each year the members of the board of joint control shall meet and organize as a board for the ensuing year and shall select a chair from their number and appoint a secretary who may, but need …

Each member of the board of joint control shall be compensated for services in accordance with the provisions of RCW 87.03.460. The amount must be fixed by resolution and entered in the minutes of the proceedings of the board. The board shall fix the compensation to be paid the s…

(1) A board of joint control created under the provisions of this chapter shall have full authority within its area of jurisdiction to enter into and perform any and all necessary contracts; to accept grants and loans, including, but not limited to, those provided under chapter 4…

A board of joint control created under this chapter is limited to the membership, area of jurisdiction, and other terms and conditions contained in the resolution of the board of county commissioners filed under RCW 87.80.090. Amendments may be proposed at any time by the board o…

Immediately after final adoption of the budget the secretary of the board shall mail or deliver a copy thereof showing the apportionment of the charge to each irrigation entity, to the secretary of each irrigation entity coming under the jurisdiction of the board of joint control…

There is created in the county treasurer's office of the county in which the board of joint control was created, a special fund to be designated Control Fund of the (naming the county) County Joint Control Board No. (specifying the number). The county treasurer shall distribute a…

When the county treasurer serves as treasurer for the board of joint control, the board of joint control shall issue vouchers for its operations against the control fund and the county treasurer shall pay out moneys from the fund upon warrants drawn by the county auditor of said …

An irrigation entity under contract with an agency of the federal government for the construction or operation of its irrigation system may not participate in a board of joint control under this chapter if this action is in conflict with provisions of the subject contract. If a r…

A board of joint control created among irrigation entities utilizing waters of the Yakima river and tributaries shall, when undertaking water conservation projects, fully coordinate those projects with federal and state programs adopted under the Yakima river basin water enhancem…

This chapter shall not affect the final decree of a general adjudication conducted under RCW 90.03.110 through 90.03.245. [ 1996 c 320 s 23.]

The provisions of chapter 306, Laws of 2003 shall not be construed or interpreted to authorize the impairment of any existing water rights. [ 2003 c 306 s 4.]

The growing population of the state of Washington, coupled with increasing amounts of available leisure time have greatly expanded the need for and use of the larger lakes in the state of Washington, both by Washington state residents and guests from other states and countries. I…

Any irrigation district having the major portion of an inland navigable body of water within its exterior boundaries and which has filed with the department of ecology and been granted a water right certificate for fifty thousand acre feet of water or more shall be eligible to be…

A petition to convert an existing irrigation district to an irrigation and rehabilitation district shall be signed by at least fifty holders of title or evidence of title to land within the district. The petition shall contain the following: (1) The legal description of the prope…

A notice of hearing and a hearing on the petition shall be held as provided by RCW 87.03.020. [ 1961 c 226 s 4.]

A notice of election and election shall be held to determine whether the electors desire to convert the existing irrigation district to an irrigation and rehabilitation district. The notice of election and election shall be governed by the applicable provisions of chapter 87.03 R…

In addition to the purposes for which irrigation districts may be organized under RCW 87.03.010, an irrigation and rehabilitation district may also be organized or maintained to further the recreational potential of the area and to further the rehabilitation or improvement of inl…

The directors of the irrigation and rehabilitation district shall be the same as of the irrigation district and the directors shall retain all power, rights and authority heretofore granted to them or hereafter granted to them as directors of an irrigation district under any prov…

The water in any natural or impounded lake, wholly or partially within the boundaries of an irrigation and rehabilitation district, together with all use of said water and the bottom and shore lines to the line established by the highest level where water has been or shall be sto…

(1)(a) The directors of the district shall annually determine the amount of money necessary to carry on the rehabilitation operations of the district and shall classify the property therein in proportion to the benefits to be derived from the rehabilitation operations of the dist…

The special assessments provided for in RCW 87.84.070 shall be subject to and inferior to existing local improvement district assessments of any city or town which is included within the boundaries of an irrigation and rehabilitation district. The collection of local improvement …

The directors of an irrigation and rehabilitation district shall have the authority to pass rules and regulations to accomplish district purposes. The rules and regulations shall (except in case of emergency) be published at least once in a newspaper of general circulation in the…

The directors may enact rules and regulations, the violation of which shall be punishable as a misdemeanor, and the district judges in said district shall have exclusive jurisdiction over such offenses. Penalty for violation shall not exceed a five hundred dollar fine or six mont…

The sheriff's department of any county in which an irrigation and rehabilitation district is located shall enforce the rules and regulations of the district. [ 1963 c 221 s 8.] Notes: Severability—1963 c 221: See note following RCW 87.84.005.

An irrigation and rehabilitation district shall possess all the usual powers of a municipal corporation and shall have the authority to sue and enforce its rules and regulations. [ 1963 c 221 s 9.] Notes: Severability—1963 c 221: See note following RCW 87.84.005.

The provisions of this chapter shall not be construed so as to restrict the governing body of any city, town or county located on or adjacent to an inland body of water controlled by an irrigation and rehabilitation district from conducting or carrying out governmental or proprie…