2017-06-26 Water Conservancy Board meetingMeeting to discuss Water Conservancy Board
June 26, 2017
3:10 p.m.
Present: Commissioner Fund, Commissioner Jackson, Lee Napier, Robert “Bob” Thode, and Barbara
Burton-Buress
Recorder: Rieva Lester
Commissioner Jackson asked what the roles are on the Water Conservancy Board.
Barbara Burton-Buress said the Water Conservancy Board is designed to help with simple water rights
changes or water use changes. She said going through the Board helps expedite applications through
Ecology.
Bob Thode said the board meets the third Thursday of every month in room 121 at the historic
courthouse. Bob said serving on the board requires 32 hours of initial training followed by 8 hours
annually of additional training.
Bob said water rights are a touchy subject statewide. He said it doesn’t work well in Western
Washington. He said 90 percent of water rights in Lewis County are invalid. He said they disappear after
six years of non-use. He said he tries to educate water rights holders as to how to retain those rights if
you change the use or stop using the rights. He said it’s tough to find good, valid water when it comes
time to transfer water rights.
He said the Chehalis River water rights are over-allocated but are not being used. Lee asked how water
rights could be cleaned up. Bob said adjudication or contacting individual water rights.
At 3:19 p.m., the meeting recessed due to a fire alarm. The meeting resumed at 3:24 p.m.
Lee Napier said it’s not the Conservancy Board’s job to adjudicate.
Barbara said Ecology often sends owner applicants to the Conservancy Board.
Bob said he has worked on water rights in Centralia as well as water rights at Transalta (2014-2015).
Barbara said each application takes roughly a year.
Bob said they are working on an application from a dairy farm to a development in Onalaska.
Bob said he also worked on the Mickelson dairy in Winlock.
Bob said active applications include the Deskins property in Onalaska as well as one in Centralia.
Bob said the board met in January, February, March, and April 2017.
Barbara said most meetings last 30 minutes to 45 minutes.
Bob said the board charges $500 per application in addition to any consultant and publication fees.
Barbara said they don’t charge for site visits, etc. Barbara said she attended the four-day class in Moses
Lake and requested mileage reimbursement for that trip.
Bob said he is the treasurer.
Barbara said it should be a three-member board with a couple of alternates.
The group discussed OPMA requirements for meetings.
Bob said it would be good to have the municipalities represented on the Water Conservancy Board.
Bob said he has water rights, and Barbara said she does not.
Bob said the board must work on a first come, first served basis.
The group discussed the Hirst decision and how it might affect the Water Conservancy Board’s role.
Lee asked how the board determines whether rights are valid.
Bob said aerial photos, etc. are used to help determine use.
Lee asked how often the board sees agriculture-to-development requests. Bob said most applications
are moving water rights from ag to industrial or municipal.
Commissioner Jackson asked how a possible dam in the Willapa Hills would affect the flows. Barbara
said instream flows have seniority.
Lee Napier left at 3:52 p.m.
Barbara discussed the benefits of a water retention facility.
Commissioner Fund said it appears the board is seeking the recruitment of board members.
Barbara said a gentleman from Mentor Law called and may have someone interested in serving on the
Water Conservancy Board.
Bob said his term has lapsed. He said he would need to be reappointed.
Meeting adjourned at 3:58 p.m.