Annual Joint AWRA-WA & Washington Hydrologic Society Meeting
Washington State Legislative Update
Jennifer Holderman, Dept. of Ecology
Jennifer will discuss bills introduced and enacted during the 2015 Washington Legislative Session concerning water resource issues. The legislature considered nearly 30 water resources related bills this session. This presentation looks more closely at 20 of these bills, constituting nine subject areas. Topics considered by the legislature included: water banking and other mechanisms for transferring water rights, defining an exception to the water code, the overriding consideration of the public interest, finding solutions for rural water users, artificial storage and recovery, water supply solutions in the Skagit River Basin, and generating revenue for water infrastructure. The legislature also grappled with agency sponsored legislation on the FERC licensing fee and governance structure for water resource work outside of the agency. Jennifer will provide an update on how these bills progressed through the legislative process and how they may impact Water Resources’ program policy at the Department of Ecology.
Jennifer Holderman is a water resource planner with the Department of Ecology in the Water Resources Program. Her work primarily focuses on legislative coordination, rural water supply issues and reclaimed water policy development. She also provides policy support in preparation for on the ground response to drought and is coordinating climate change adaptation efforts for the program. Prior to working at the Department of Ecology, she worked for a watershed council located in Manzanita, OR. Jennifer holds a MS in Water Resources from Oregon State University and a JD from the University of Oregon.
Event Details
Social & Networking: 5:30 pm -6:30 pm
Dinner: 6:30 pm -7:00 pm
Presentation: 7:00 – 8:00 pm
Directions: I-5 Northbound or Southbound: take exit 172 to North 85th Street. Follow North 85th Street to Greenwood Ave North. Turn right onto Greenwood Ave North. Brewery will be on the right.
Fees: $20 with food plus wine/beer; $15 with food plus soft drinks; Free for students; Attendance to presentation welcomed for free without purchase of food and drink.
The legislative special session runs to the May 15 deadline. For the latest on which bills and issues are still being discussed, see:
The WA Department of Ecology's list of water resources bills
House and Senate budgets
Governor's Proposed budget
Legislative contact information is listed at http://app.leg.wa.gov/DistrictFinder/.
