Governor signs Water Right Adjudication bill supported by Whatcom PUD

Governor signs Nooksack Water Right Adjudication bill supported by Whatcom County PUD

(Olympia)- Governor Jay Inslee signed into law last week legislation (House Bill 1792) supported by Whatcom County Public Utility District aimed at making it easier for water right holders to file court claims in a Nooksack Water Right Adjudication. The bill, sponsored by Representative Joe Timmons (D-42nd District), prescribes certain timelines, and creates a public input process to enable review and input into the adjudication claim form produced by the State Department of Ecology and used by water right holders when filing claims.

The State Department of Ecology announced it intends to file a water right adjudication in the Nooksack Basin during the next year. The state’s Surface Water Code establishes a general adjudication procedure to determine rights to surface water, ground water, or both. The bill was supported by local governments and water users in the Nooksack Basin including Whatcom PUD, Whatcom County Government, City of Bellingham, Ag Water Board, Lummi Nation, and the Nooksack Tribe.

“Whatcom County PUD is proud of the part we played in helping to create this bill and want to congratulate everyone involved,” said Whatcom County PUD General Manager, Chris Heimgartner. “We are grateful for the leadership of Representative Timmons who successfully advanced the bill through the legislature with unanimous support. His hard work will benefit folks in Whatcom County and the Nooksack Watershed.”

Governor Inslee signed the legislation at a signing ceremony April 20, 2023.
Photo of signing ceremony at right.