§ 11.1 - Introduction

• Jurisdiction: Washington

§11.1 INTRODUCTION

This chapter relates to the law of water rights, with an emphasis on Washington law. The chapter covers a broad range of subjects, from the establishment of new water rights to the change, transfer, loss, and "general adjudication" of existing rights to regulation of existing water rights and future water management, that is, planning. It also covers water rights law development within the federal system and the establishment of water rights under the federal or "reserved rights" doctrine. This chapter does not deal with the law relating to water distribution through entities such as irrigation districts, water districts, or the federal Bureau of Reclamation, nor does it deal with impacts on state-law-based water rights arising from the implementation of various environmental laws embodied in federal statutes enacted...