Source: http://www.citizenreviewonline.org/2011/Apr/protection_of_rights.html
Timestamp: 2014-09-02 01:47:30
Document Index: 296805179

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 21', '§ 1', '§ 72', '§ 14', '§ 7364', '§ 2', '§ 2', '§ 98', '§ 1', '§ 5', '§ 8', '§ 2', '§ 44', '§ 7399', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 3', '§ 16', '§ 1', '§ 7351', '§ 1', '§ 31']

Washington State - Pearl Rains Hewett, an individual citizen, has been researching the Washington State laws to learn what protection can be afforded to owners of private property, and the use of water on their own land. She forwarded the information to the Clallam Citizens Alliance for Property Rights' (CAPR) president, Karl Spees, who in turn shared them with us to share with our readers.
Following is a list of the laws (RCWs) she's found:
Application -- 2009 c 332: "Except for section 14 of this act, this act applies only to adjudications initiated after July 26, 2009." [2009 c 332 § 21.]
Additional powers and duties enumerated -- Payment for from reclamation account: RCW 89.16.055.
RCW 90.03.110
Determination of water rights — Petition — Statement and plan.
[2009 c 332 § 1; 1987 c 109 § 72; 1917 c 117 § 14; RRS § 7364. Formerly RCW 90.12.010.]
(1) For the examination of an application for a permit to appropriate water, a minimum fee of fifty dollars must be remitted with the application. For an amount of water exceeding one-half cubic foot per second, the examination fee shall be assessed at the rate of one dollar per one hundredth cubic foot per second. In no case will the examination fee be less than fifty dollars or more than twenty-five thousand dollars. No fee is required under this subsection (1) for an application filed by a party to a cost-reimbursement agreement made under RCW 90.03.265.
(3)(a) For the examination of an application to transfer, change, or amend a water right certificate, permit, or claim as authorized by RCW 90.44.100, 90.44.105, or 90.03.380, a minimum fee of fifty dollars must be remitted with the application. For an application for change involving an amount of water exceeding one cubic foot per second, the total examination fee shall be assessed at the rate of fifty cents per one hundredth cubic foot per second. For an application for change of a storage water right, the total examination fee shall be assessed at the rate of one dollar for each acre foot of water involved in the change. The fee shall be based on the amount of water subject to change as proposed in the application, not on the total amount of water reflected in the water right certificate, permit, or claim. In no case will the examination fee charged for a change application be less than fifty dollars or more than twelve thousand five hundred dollars.
[2005 c 412 § 2; 1993 c 495 § 2; 1987 c 109 § 98; 1965 ex.s. c 160 § 1; 1951 c 57 § 5; 1929 c 122 § 8; 1925 ex.s. c 161 § 2; 1917 c 117 § 44; RRS § 7399. Formerly RCW 90.04.040.]
Findings -- Intent--2005 c 412: "The legislature finds that the fees associated with various actions of the department of ecology relating to the processing and administration of water rights are outdated and are insufficient even to recover the cost of handling the funds submitted. The legislature also finds that water right processing fees are currently collected at three different stages of the water rights process and that reducing the number of instances of fee collection to two stages of the process would increase efficiency and reduce administrative costs. The legislature further finds that several current statutory fees are archaic or are otherwise covered by other general statutes, including the state's public disclosure laws. The legislature therefore intends to update and modernize the fee schedule associated with water right-related actions of the department of ecology." [2005 c 412 § 1.]
Findings -- 1993 c 495: "The legislature finds that a water right confers significant economic benefits to the water right holder. The fees associated with acquiring a water right have not changed significantly since 1917. Water rights applicants pay less than two percent of the costs of the administration of the water rights program. The legislature finds that, since water rights are of significant value, water rights applicants should contribute more to the cost of administration of the water rights program.
Therefore, the legislature creates a task force to review the water rights program, to make recommendations for streamlining the application process and increasing the overall efficiency and accountability of the administration of the program, and to return to the legislature with a proposal for a fee schedule where the fee levels relate clearly to the cost of services provided." [1993 c 495 § 1.]
RCW 90.14.044
Existing water rights not impaired.
The provisions of chapter 435, Laws of 1985 authorizing the acceptance of a petition for certification filed during the period beginning on July 28, 1985, and ending on midnight, September 1, 1985, shall not affect or impair in any respect whatsoever any water right existing prior to July 28, 1985.
"Sufficient cause" for nonuse defined — Rights exempted. (Effective until June 30, 2019.)
RCW 90.14.071
Failure to file claim waives and relinquishes right.
Except as provided in *section 5 of this act or as exempted from filing by RCW 90.14.041, any person claiming the right to divert or withdraw waters of the state as set forth in RCW 90.14.041, who fails to file a statement of claim as provided in RCW 90.14.041, 90.14.043, or 90.14.068 and in RCW 90.14.051 and 90.14.061, shall be conclusively deemed to have waived and relinquished any right, title, or interest in said right.
[1997 c 440 § 3; 1969 ex.s. c 284 § 16.]
*Reviser's note: Section 5 of this act was vetoed by the governor.
Severability -- 1969 ex.s. c 284: See note following RCW 90.48.290.
RCW 90.03.010
Appropriation of water rights — Existing rights preserved.
[1917 c 117 § 1; RRS § 7351. Prior: 1891 p 127 § 1. Formerly RCW 90.04.020.]
According to Pearl, this is the law RCW 90.58.100 that won the recent lawsuit for Pacific Legal Foundation.
According to Pearl, at the Jan 26, 2010 SMP focus group meeting, Lake Sutherland property owners spoke out about the water level on the Lake. They mentioned more then once, the continuing battle they were having with fisheries and the DOE to keep Indian Creek outflow open.
This is the RCW 90.24.010 I found that people on Lake Sutherland can use to protect their property.
If nobody knows that a law exists, how can they use it?
Pearl says, "I am sad to say that in the last 2 1/2 months I have only found three laws that protect private property owners".
Effective date -- 1985 c 398: "Sections 28 through 30 of this act shall take effect January 1, 1986." [1985 c 398 § 31.]