Water Rights

The purpose of this page is to provide local government decision-makers with information about water rights in Washington state. The complexities of water rights law in Washington have affected the ability of local governments to acquire new water rights, put water to use in an efficient manner, and meet obligations under the Growth Management Act (GMA). MRSC has prepared a brief overview of water rights in Washington.

If you have information to share or are aware of other web sites to which we should link, please contact Carol Tobin, Planning Consultant, at ctobin@mrsc.org, or call us at (206) 625-1300. 

Specific Water Rights Topics

• Municipal Water Rights (Public Water Suppliers)
• Overview of Water Rights in Washington
• Water Law Basics
• Water Rights and Comprehensive Land Use Planning and Private Land Development Review

Legal References

• Administrative Regulations
• Attorney General Opinions
• Court Decisions
• Statutes

Related MRSC Pages

• Watershed Planning
• Water Resources - Includes information on general water issues, water resource plans, and local government water resources

Additional References

• Washington State Department of Ecology Water Resources
  • Water Conservancy Boards, Department of Ecology
  • Water Rights Information
  • Water Right General Adjudications
  • Water Right Tracking System
  • DOE Watershed Planning Program
• State of Washington Water Research Center (WSU)
• Washington Water Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey

Related MRSC Resources
MRSC Index – Water rights, water permits