WASHINGTON STATE DEPARTMENT OF ECOLOGY HAS NEW ONLINE PORTAL FOR WATER RIGHT DOCUMENTS IN EACH OF THE FOUR REGIONS ACROSS WASHINGTON STATE

To streamline how the Department of Ecology posts water right documents and decisions, they have provided an online portal to access the most documents in the Northwest, Southwest, Central, and Eastern regions. Access the portal to find recently accepted new right applications and changes, draft and final water right decisions, and trust water right applications and decisions. As legally required or for transparency, applications for water right are posted for awareness, to aid in reviewing or allowing public comment on draft decisions, and for posting final decisions for the appeal period. When a decision is appealable, a link to the Environmental & Land Use Hearings Office website is provided.

A new water right or a water right change is posted on the updated page for 30 days in the applicable region, but water right applicants need to adhere to the appropriation procedure for water code RCW 90.03.280  and post an official notice of application in the local newspaper. Users will benefit from this portal as it will simplify their site experience and, also, simplify the workflow for the Washington State Department of Ecology. Plus, users will be able to subscribe to receive emails whenever there is a change in their region.

On Ecology’s website, visit the updated page here then choose the desired region to see comment forms associated with open for comment documents, document descriptions, and a link to sign up for email notices instantly, daily, or weekly.

You can also access the regions here: Northwest, Southwest, Central, and Eastern.