Water Right

Legislators, Tribes, Environmental Organizations And Others: Opposing The Water Bills

OLYMPIA (May 5,2003)-A coalition of legislators, Indian tribes, environmental organizations and fishing groups objected this morning to the potential passage of water bills to be considered in the special legislative session slated for May 12.

In a press conference in Olympia, State Senator Karen Fraser (D-Olympia), Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission Chairman Billy Frank, Jr., Washington Environmental Council President Jay Manning and others said the bills serve the interests of big water users at the expense of the environment and everyone else in the state.

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United Tribes Distribute Water Principles

OLYMPIA (Jan. 13, 2003) — Indian tribes today released a list of principles they say the state must comply with in setting water policy. The principles, which were distributed to the Governor’s Office, state legislators and state agencies, were accompanied by a letter from Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission Chairman Billy Frank, Jr. which stated that tribes hold the senior water right in the state and that this fact, in addition to treaty law, requires the state to protect water with a priority toward sustaining fish and wildlife habitat.

“The senior right is not held by the public utility districts. It’s not held by the cities, and it’s not held by corporations or the counties. It’s held by the tribal governments, along with the state and federal governments. These are the governments that actually own the water, on behalf of their respective citizens. That’s the law, and yet the state has consistently ignored the tribes in its legislative and management practices and policies,” said Frank.

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Tribes Hold The Senior Water Right

January 14, 2003

With the 2003 State Legislature now in session, water is again a key environmental issue being considered by the state lawmakers.

Another thing they must consider is that the tribes hold the senior water right in this state. The senior right is not held by the public utility districts. It’s not held by the cities, and it’s not held by corporations or the counties. It’s held by the tribal governments—along with the state and federal governments. These are the governments that actually own the water, on behalf of their respective citizens. That’s the law, and yet the state has consistently ignored the tribes in its legislative and management practices and policies.

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