The bill amends RCW 90.14.043 to facilitate the filing of adjudication claims for precode uses of groundwater and surface water in the water resource inventory area 1 (WRIA 1) adjudication, which affects Whatcom and Skagit counties. It emphasizes the importance of applying lessons learned from the Yakima basin water rights adjudication to ensure that water users can participate in the WRIA 1 adjudication process. The new section allows for claims to be filed without being subject to certain time restrictions, specifically for adjudications filed after June 1, 2023, and establishes that filing an adjudication claim form satisfies the requirements of existing law.

Additionally, the bill clarifies that claims filed under this new provision will not affect or impair any water rights that existed prior to July 27, 1997, and that such claims will be subordinate to previously established water rights. The amendments aim to streamline the adjudication process and provide clarity for water users in the affected areas, ensuring their rights are recognized while maintaining the integrity of existing water rights.

Statutes affected:
Original Bill: 90.14.043
Substitute Bill: 90.14.043
Bill as Passed Legislature: 90.14.043
Session Law: 90.14.043