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James owns a vineyard in the Yakima Valley, Washington, with a senior water right permit dated 1948. He wants to sell 50 acre-feet per year of his water right to a neighboring property owner, Linda, while retaining the remaining 150 acre-feet for his own use. James's total permitted quantity is 200 acre-feet per year. Under Washington law, which of the following best describes the process and potential outcome of this proposed partial water right transfer?

Correct Answer

B) James must apply to the Department of Ecology for approval of the partial transfer; the Department will evaluate whether the transfer injures other water right holders before approving it.

Under RCW 90.03.380, the transfer of a water right — including a partial transfer of a portion of the permitted quantity — requires application to and approval by the Washington Department of Ecology. The Department evaluates the proposed transfer to ensure it will not injure other existing water right holders (e.g., by changing the point of diversion, place of use, or timing of use in ways that harm downstream or neighboring appropriators). If the transfer is approved, the transferred portion retains the original 1948 priority date in Linda's hands. Partial transfers are permissible under Washington law, but the approval process is mandatory.

Answer Options
A
James may transfer the 50 acre-feet to Linda immediately by recording a deed of water rights at the county auditor's office, with no state agency involvement required.
B
James must apply to the Department of Ecology for approval of the partial transfer; the Department will evaluate whether the transfer injures other water right holders before approving it.
C
James cannot transfer a portion of his water right; Washington law requires that water rights be transferred in their entirety or not at all.
D
James may transfer the 50 acre-feet to Linda only if Linda's property shares a boundary with James's property, as water rights can only be transferred to adjacent landowners.

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Related Topics & Key Terms

Key Terms:

water_rightspartial_transferdepartment_of_ecologyinjury_to_other_rightsyakima_valley

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