Ease Water Rights Logjam, Panel Asks

Washington’s growth and economy are jeopardized by the state’s failure to adequately administer water rights applications, says the chairman of an agriculture council.

Peter Goldmark, chairman of the Governor’s Council on Agriculture and the Environment, on Monday urged lawmakers and Gov. Mike Lowry to create a program to administer the applications.

“The well-being of the people of the state of Washington demands responsible action to resolve this critical issue,” Goldmark told a news conference.

He said there are several thousand permits filed each year, but only about 800 are resolved.

“This creates a huge backlog,” said Goldmark. “This backlog makes the probability of getting water rights applications resolved low.”

The 24-member council was established in July 1994. It advises the governor, the Legislature and state agencies on agriculture-related issues.