OCR Text |
Show Chapter 47. WASHINGTON CONTENTS Page 1. Development of Washington Water Law_________________________ 759 2. State Organizational Structure for Water Administration and Control- 762 2.1 Administration of Water Rights________________________ 762 2.2 Resolution of Water Use Conflicts______________________ 767 2.3 Other Agencies Having Water Resource Responsibilities____ 768 3. Surface Waters________________________________....._________ 768 3.1 Method of Acquiring Rights___________________________ 769 3.2 Nature and Limit of Rights___________________________ 771 3.3 Changes, Sales, and Transfers__________________________ 775 3.4 Loss of Rights______________________________________ 775 3.5 Storage Waters, Artificial Lakes, and Ponds______________ 777 3.6 Springs____________________________________________ 778 3.7 Diffused Surface Waters______________________________ 778 4. Ground Water____.........._________________________________ 779 Publications Available__________________________________________ 781 DISCUSSION 1. Development of Washington Water Law Washington has an unusual climate with two distinct types of climatic conditions existing in the State. The western portion of the State enjoys a generally mild, moist climate with some areas re- ceiving in excess of 100 inches of precipitation annually, while the eastern part of the State is characterized by short, hot summers, comparatively cold winters and a good deal less precipitation. Much of the eastern portion of the State receives less than 20 inches of precipitation annually. The general line of demarcation between these two areas is the Cascade Mountain Range, which extends north and south through the central part of the State.1 While agriculture is a substantial industry in the State, the major irrigation projects which divert and use the water have taken place east of the Cascade Range, where rainfall is not sufficient to mature crops. There are numerous lakes, streams, and rivers available for use in Washington, the principal river being the Columbia which originates in Canada. In addition to the inland waters of the State, Washington has an extensive seashore. The Puget Sound area offers excellent harbor facilities for ocean-going vessels. One of the impor- tant industries in the State is the commercial fishing industry.2 With its unusual climatic conditions, it is not surprising that Washington has had to make some adjustments in its water law to accommodate the continuing development of the State. The riparian doctrine of water rights was initially adopted as the basic water law of the State, although rights to water flowing through public lands 1 Comprehensive Framework Study of Water and Related Lands for the Columbia- North Pacific Region, Submitted by the Pacific Northwest River Basins Commission, appendixes II, III, and IX. aid. 759 |