Water Resources > Water Conservancy Boards

Water Conservancy Boards

General Information

The 1997 Legislature (in RCW 90.80) authorized counties to establish water conservancy boards (boards) to enable the processing of water-right transfer applications at the local level.  A board can serve a single watershed, multiple watersheds, a county, or multiple counties.

Once established, a board operates as a separate unit of local government.  Boards process water right transfer applications and issue records of decision.  All board decisions are ultimately reviewed and affirmed, reversed or modified by Ecology.

Each board consists of three or five commissioners with up to two alternates.  All board commissioners and alternates must initially receive 32 hours of training from Ecology, and maintain 8 hours per year of continuing education after that.

More detailed information on boards and board activities

There are currently 20 water conservancy boards operating in Washington: 16 on the East side and 4 on the West side.  See the contact list for the boards and board fees.  Three boards have websites: Chelan, Thurston and Yakima.

Adams Benton Chelan Douglas Ferry Franklin Grant

Mason Island Kittitas Klickitat Lewis Lincoln Okanogan

Spokane Stevens Thurston Walla Walla Whitman Yakima

Records of Decision

Water Conservancy Boards - Records of Decision - Review and comment on Records of Decision with open comment periods.

More Information

• Water Conservancy Board Q & A
• Board Web sites
  • Chelan County
  • Thurston County
  • Yakima County
• Changing or Transferring an Existing Water Right
• Chapter 173-153 WAC  Water conservancy boards
• 2006 Report to the Legislature
• Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee (JLARC)
• Information for Board Commissioners

Board Contacts and Fees

• Conservancy Board Contact List and Fees

Status of Boards and Board Commissioners and Alternatives

The information in the link below is considered accurate as of the date identified.  Please contact Janet Rajala for more current information.

Note: The “Operational” (operating status) column indicates whether a board has enough eligible commissioners to make a record of decision.  Eligibility is based on the commissioner fulfilling educational requirements per WAC 173-153-050.

• Status of Boards and Board Commissioners and Alternatives

Staff Guidance on Water Conservancy Boards

In order to document Ecology staff responsibilities for working with water conservancy boards, Ecology developed internal guidance for employees that work directly with boards.  The document was effective September 1, 2004 and updated October 31, 2006.

• Water Conservancy Board Staff Guidance Document

Contact

Janet Rajala
Water Conservancy Board Coordinator
Department of Ecology
4601 N. Monroe Street
Spokane, WA 99205
Office - 509 329-3421
Fax - 509 329-3529
jaca461@ecy.wa.gov