Introduced by Rep. David Buri (R) on January 20, 2006
To protect the nonuse of water in the Odessa subarea from relinquishment laws if certain conditions are met and the withdrawal facilities are maintained in good operating condition and no superseding standby or reserve water right permit has been issued from the Columbia basin project. Conditions that excuse nonuse include: conservation practice; change in types or rotations of crops; economic hardship; pumping or system infrastructure cost; unavailability or unsuitability of water; or participation in cooperative efforts to reduce aquifer depletion
Water protected from relinquishment cannot be transferred outside of the Odessa subarea
boundaries and transfers within the boundaries remain subject to the standard water transfer
provisions of the law. The bill has an emergency clause. See companion SB 6151. Official Text and Analysis.
Referred to the House Economic Development, Agriculture and Trade Committee on January 20, 2006