Revised Code of Washington - RCW Title 90 Water Rights -- Environment - Chapter 90.54 Water Resources Act Of 1971

90.54.005 Findings -- Objectives -- 2002 c 329
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 ...

90.54.010 Purpose
(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 ...

90.54.020 General declaration of fundamentals for utilization and management of waters of the state
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, ...

90.54.030 Water and related resources -- Department to be advised -- Water resources data program
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, ...

90.54.035 State funding of water resource programs -- Priorities
(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 ...

90.54.040 Comprehensive state water resources program -- Modifying existing and adopting new regulations and statutes
(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 ...

90.54.045 Water resource planning -- Pilot process -- Report to the legislature
(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 ...

90.54.050 Setting aside or withdrawing waters -- Rules -- Consultation with legislative committees -- Public hearing, notice -- Review
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, ...

90.54.060 Department to seek involvement of other persons and entities, means -- Assistance grants
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 ...

90.54.080 State to vigorously represent its interests before federal agencies, interstate agencies
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 ...

90.54.090 State, local governments, municipal corporations to comply with chapter
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 ...

90.54.100 Department to evaluate needs for projects and alternative methods of financing
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 ...

90.54.110 Authority to secure and obtain benefits, including grants
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 ...

90.54.120 "Department," "utilize," and "utilization" defined
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 ...

90.54.130 Land use management policy modifications -- Advisory recommendations
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 ...

90.54.140 Protection of groundwater aquifers if sole drinking water source
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 ...

90.54.150 Water supply projects -- Cooperation with other agencies -- Scope of participation
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 ...

90.54.160 Department to report on dam safety
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 ...

90.54.170 Electric generation facility -- Evaluation of application to appropriate water
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 ...

90.54.180 Water use efficiency and conservation programs and practices
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 ...

90.54.191 Stream flow restoration a priority
The department shall prioritize the expenditure of funds and other resources for programs related to stream flow restoration in watersheds where the exercise of inchoate ...

90.54.800 Policy guidelines
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 ...

90.54.900 Certain rights, authority, not to be affected by chapter
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 ...

90.54.910 Short title
This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Water Resources Act of 1971".[1971 ex.s. c 225 § 14.] ...

90.54.920 Rights not impaired
(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 ...