OLYMPIA…The governor yesterday signed into law a measure proposed by Sen. Bob Morton, R-Orient, that encourages water storage and flood control, provides wetlands and habitat, and protects Washington’s rivers from silt and soil erosion.

“As we experience a drought, we should do all we can to encourage water storage,” said Morton, ranking Republican on the Senate Water, Energy and Environment Committee. “This bill allows the state to recognize that private storage reservoirs are worth far more than the dam inspection fees they are charged.” 

Morton’s proposal ensures that owners of dams constructed less than 10 years ago will not be charged an inspection fee when plans and specifications were approved for safety by the Department of Ecology (DOE).  For dams older than 10 years, the inspection fee is reduced from $800 to $250.

“Inspections for new private dams go overboard and ignore the fact that private citizens are offering an invaluable public service,” said Morton, whose legislation was the result of a complaint by a local private dam owner who built a dam abiding by construction specifications approved for safety by DOE.  “Once the dam was constructed, after a costly 12-year state and federal permitting process, DOE indicated it would inspect the facility every five years at a fee of $4,000 – $800 per year.

“This is a new dam, built state of the art to DOE-approved specs and the owner is being nickel and dimed out of providing an invaluable public service,” Morton added. “The state has a duty to ensure a safe structure, but current practices for new DOE-approved dams go overboard, cost too much and discourage the creation of water storage opportunities.”

After Morton’s original bill, Senate Bill 5528, stalled in the House Natural Resources, Ecology and Parks Committee, he successfully amended the text of the proposal to Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2309.

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For more information contact Tami Davis (360) 786-7519 or davis.tami@leg.wa.gov