Skip to main content
Find a Lawyer

Washington Revised Code Title 90. Water Rights--Environment § 90.14.043. Claim of right to withdraw, divert or use ground or surface waters--Claim upon certification by board--Procedure--Cut-off date for accepting petitions

Current as of January 01, 2025 | Updated by Findlaw Staff

(1) Notwithstanding any time restrictions imposed by the provisions of chapter 90.14 RCW, a person may file a claim pursuant to RCW 90.14.041 if such person obtains a certification from the pollution control hearings board as provided in this section.

(2) A certification shall be issued by the pollution control hearings board if, upon petition to the board, it is shown to the satisfaction of the board that:

(a) Waters of the state have been applied to beneficial use continuously (with no period of nonuse exceeding five consecutive years) in the case of surface water beginning not later than June 7, 1917, and in the case of groundwater beginning not later than June 7, 1945, or

(b) Waters of the state have been applied to beneficial use continuously (with no period of nonuse exceeding five consecutive years) from the date of entry of a court decree confirming a water right and any failure to register a claim resulted from a reasonable misinterpretation of the requirements as they related to such court decreed rights.

(3) The board shall have jurisdiction to accept petitions for certification from any person through September 1, 1985, and not thereafter.

(4) A petition for certification shall include complete information on the claim pursuant to RCW 90.14.051 (1) through (8), and any such information as the board may require.

(5) The department of ecology is directed to accept for filing any claim certified by the board as provided in subsection (2) of this section. The department of ecology, upon request of the board, may provide assistance to the board pertinent to any certification petition.

(6) A certification by the pollution control hearings board or a filing with the department of ecology of a claim under this section shall not constitute a determination or confirmation that a water right exists.

(7) The provisions of RCW 90.14.071 shall have no applicability to certified claims filed pursuant to this section.

(8) This section shall have no applicability to groundwaters resulting from the operations of reclamation projects.

Previous Part of Code Next Part of Code
Back to Chapter List

Cite this article: FindLaw.com - Washington Revised Code Title 90. Water Rights--Environment § 90.14.043. Claim of right to withdraw, divert or use ground or surface waters--Claim upon certification by board--Procedure--Cut-off date for accepting petitions - last updated January 01, 2025 | https://codes.findlaw.com/wa/title-90-water-rightsenvironment/wa-rev-code-90-14-043/

FindLaw Codes may not reflect the most recent version of the law in your jurisdiction. Please verify the status of the code you are researching with the state legislature before relying on it for your legal needs.

Was this helpful?

Welcome to FindLaw's Cases & Codes

A free source of state and federal court opinions, state laws, and the United States Code. For more information about the legal concepts addressed by these cases and statutes, visit FindLaw’s Learn About the Law.

Go to Learn About the Law

Latest Blog Posts

For Legal Professionals

Learn About The Law

Get help with your legal needs

FindLaw’s Learn About the Law features thousands of informational articles to help you understand your options. And if you’re ready to hire an attorney, find one in your area who can help.

Go to Learn About the Law

Need to Find an Attorney?

Search our directory by legal issue

Enter information in one or both fields (Required)

Copied to clipboard