The
legislature finds that the fundamentals of water resource policy
in this state must be reviewed by the legislature to ensure that
the water resources of the state are protected and fully utilized
for the greatest benefit to the people of the state of
Washington. The legislature further finds that it is necessary
to provide the department of ecology with emergency powers to
authorize withdrawals of public surface and groundwaters,
including dead storage within reservoirs, on a temporary basis,
and construction of facilities in relation thereto, in order to
alleviate emergency water supply conditions arising from the
drought forecast for the state of Washington during 1977 and
during 1987 through 1989.
The legislature further finds that there is a continuing
water supply shortage in many areas of the state and that there
is an urgent need to assure the survival of irrigated crops and
of the state's fisheries.
The legislature further finds that in addition to water
storage facilities or other augmentation programs, improved
efficiency of water use could provide an important new supply of
water in many parts of the state with which to meet future water
needs and that improved efficiency of water use should receive
greater emphasis in the management of the state's water
resources.
In order to study the fundamentals of water resource policy
of the state and to provide needed moneys for the planning,
acquisition, construction, and improvement of water supply
facilities and for other appropriate measures to assure the
survival of irrigated crops and/or the state's fisheries to
alleviate emergency water supply conditions arising from droughts
occurring from time to time in the state of Washington, and to
carry out a comprehensive water use efficiency study for the
state of Washington, the state finance committee is authorized to
issue general obligation bonds of the state of Washington in the
sum of eighteen million dollars, or so much thereof as may be
required to finance such projects, and all costs incidental
thereto. No bonds authorized by this section and RCW 43.83B.360
through 43.83B.375 shall be offered for sale without prior
legislative appropriation, and these bonds shall be paid and
discharged within thirty years of the date of issuance in
accordance with Article VIII, section 1 of the state
Constitution.
[1988 c 47 § 1; 1988 c 46 § 2; 1988 c 45 § 1; 1987 c 343 § 1; 1979 ex.s. c 263 § 1; 1977 ex.s. c 1 § 1.]
NOTES:
Reviser's note: This section was amended by 1988 c 45 § 1, 1988 c 46 § 2, and by 1988 c 47 § 1, each without reference to the other. All amendments are incorporated in the publication of this section pursuant to RCW 1.12.025(2). For rule of construction, see RCW 1.12.025(1).
Application -- 1988 c 47: "Nothing in this act shall apply to or interfere with the processing or issuance of water rights in connection with the Yakima River Basin Water Enhancement Project." [1988 c 47 § 8.]
Severability -- 1988 c 47: "If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected." [1988 c 47 § 9.]
Severability -- 1987 c 343: "If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected." [1987 c 343 § 11.]
Severability -- 1979 ex.s. c 263: "If any provision of this 1979 amendatory act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected." [1979 ex.s. c 263 § 5.]