OLYMPIA…State Sen. Jim Honeyford, R-Sunnyside, has introduced two measures to ease the impacts of the 2005 drought emergency on families and farmers across the state. 

On Thursday, the governor authorized a statewide Emergency Drought Declaration, which automatically triggers expedited emergency water rights transfers and expedited temporary permits to access emergency wells and dead storage. 

That same day, Honeyford filed a bill to protect those who voluntarily transfer their water rights in response to an emergency drought declaration from losing their water rights.  While officials from the state Department of Ecology assured legislators that water rights holders who transfer water to aid drought response would be safe, they admitted there was no law formally protecting them. 

Under current law, when a water rights holder applies to transfer water, the water right is subject to an “extent and validity test,” which looks at the historic use of the water to make sure it has been consistently used. In Washington law, if a water right is not being used, it is subject to relinquishment under the state’s “use-it-or-lose-it” statute.   

In a closed-door meeting with the Senate Republican Caucus, DOE leaders assured legislators that with the two-week turnaround for expedited emergency water rights transfers, staff would not be able to conduct a thorough extent and validity test, so water rights holders would likely not risk relinquishment. 

Honeyford wants to make sure water rights holders are protected, so his bill, Senate Bill 6084, eliminates the “extent and validity” test for water rights transfers during a drought emergency. 

He introduced a second measure today, SB 6086, which allows people to retrofit their domestic wells to provide water for agricultural purposes during a drought emergency. 

“Washington’s water levels are as low as they have been since 1977,” Honeyford said. “The state needs to demonstrate good faith so everyone can work together without fear of penalty or losing water rights. 

“It’s only been four years since our last major drought,” he said. “The problems we identified then should be easier to address now. I hope all sides can work together to ease the pain of this drought.” 

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For more information contact Janelle M. Guthrie, Senate Republican Communications Director, at 360-786-7516 or via e-mail at guthrie.janelle@leg.wa.gov