Loyal Pig and CSRIA Defend Water Rights in Washington State from Dept. of Ecology Relinquishment Actions

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Columbia-Snake River Irrigators Association

Dec 05, 2018, 08:14 ET

KENNEWICK, Wash., Dec. 5, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Following its original order this past summer, the Benton/Franklin County Superior Court (WA) again has ordered the Washington State Dept. of Ecology (Water Resources Program) to stop water right relinquishment actions against Loyal Pig, LLC., as well as toward other statewide water rights. The Court's order further reinstates a water right transfer previously approved by the Franklin County Water Conservancy Board and prevents Ecology from usurping fundamental water law provisions protecting rights from unlawful relinquishment.

Joining Loyal Pig in defending statewide water rights, the Columbia-Snake River Irrigators Association (CSRIA) stressed that perhaps the most important piece of the state water code, the five-year period for relinquishment protection, was being corrupted by Ecology. CSRIA argued that water rights subjected to either a judicial adjudication or administrative determination receive a five-year "period of grace" for non-use. During this period, the full consumptive amount of the right is available for transfer. Ecology attempted to stop the water right transfer and invoke relinquishment, but the Superior Court has twice ordered otherwise.

CSRIA Board Representative Darryll Olsen called Ecology's actions "an unfortunate display of poor judgement, at all technical, legal, and managerial levels. This legal fight should never have happened, and Ecology spurned attempts by CSRIA to engage in reasoned discourse with the Water Resources Program leadership." Olsen further conveyed "that the Water Resources Program should never be attempting to use the water right change/transfer statutes as a vehicle to relinquish (take away) water rights. It totally defeats the purpose of water right transfers, water conservation actions, and water marketing."

Loyal Pig, LLC., is part of a water right change/transfer affecting high-value irrigated wine grape production along the Columbia River, Horse Heaven Hills area. The CSRIA represents many Eastern WA irrigators and municipal entities, and is a champion for promoting water use efficiency, water right change/transfers, and responsible water marketing.

For more information, see attached and/or please contact Darryll Olsen of CSRIA at 509-783-1623 or [email protected]

About CSRIA

The Columbia-Snake River Irrigators Association (www.csria.org) is a leading organization in promoting water conservation and water efficiency in Washington State. CSRIA represents many of eastern Washington's most prominent farming operations and its membership includes row crop, vineyard, orchard and livestock operations that irrigate about 250,000 acres of prime agricultural lands in Washington State which mainly consists of operations along the Columbia-Snake River system, starting north from Brewster, WA and reaching all the way south to the John Day and McNary Pools, relying almost exclusively on private investment to build and operate highly efficient, state-of-the-art river pump stations and water distribution systems. Additionally, some of CSRIA's members own farming operations in the Yakima Valley and also within the Columbia Basin Project area, and many work with food processing companies located throughout the state and nation. Furthermore, some municipalities, port districts, irrigation districts and hospital districts are members of CSRIA.

In economic terms, CSRIA members annually generate about $475-600 million in state and local income by purchasing goods and services from numerous economic sectors, ranging from paper products and food packaging to financial, legal and marketing services.

SOURCE Columbia-Snake River Irrigators Association