Rep. Skyler Rude’s bill on banking water rights related to the Walla Walla Watershed Management Partnership passes state House unanimously

The Walla Walla Watershed Management Partnership was first established into law 12-years ago and is set to end on June 30, 2021. The water banking program is one of the statutory functions of the partnership and will expire at the same time.

A bill that would allow those existing water rights banked in the partnership's program to be transferred to the state's trust program was unanimously approved by the state House of Representative on Wednesday, with a vote of 98-0.

House Bill 1143 was sponsored by Rep. Skyler Rude, R-Walla Walla.

“I appreciate the opportunity to work with the Walla Walla Watershed Management Partnership members, including the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, to find a solution that protects water right holders,” said Rude. “We will continue our work with the Walla Walla 2050 planning process to develop a 30-year plan for the basin.”

Rude's bill would transfer the banked water rights with the partnership to the state's trust program for a period of up to two years. The bill allows the transfer without the water right holder having to go through the extent and validity typically required to bank rights in the trust program.

“Banking water rights is an important tool for reducing water consumption while protecting the water rights from relinquishment,” added Rude.

The bill now heads to the Senate for further consideration.

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Washington State House Republican Communications
houserepublicans.wa.gov