WASHINGTON STATUTES AND CODES

90.03.140 - Determination of water rights -- Adjudication claim by defendant.

Determination of water rights — Adjudication claim by defendant.

(1) On or before the date specified in the summons, each defendant shall file with the clerk of the superior court an adjudication claim on a form and in a manner provided by the department, and mail or electronically mail a copy to the department. The department shall provide information that will assist claimants of small uses of water in completing their adjudication claims. The adjudication claim must contain substantially the following, except that when the legal basis for the claimed right is a federally reserved right, the information must be filed only as applicable:

     (a) The name, mailing address, and telephone contact number of each defendant on the claim, and e-mail address, if available;

     (b) The purpose or purposes of use of the water and the annual and instantaneous quantities of water put to beneficial use;

     (c) For each use, the date the first steps were taken under the law to put the water to beneficial use;

     (d) The date of beginning and completion of the construction of wells, ditches, or other works to put the water to use;

     (e) The maximum amount of land ever under irrigation and the maximum annual and instantaneous quantities of water ever used thereon prior to the date of the statement and if for power, or other purposes, the maximum annual and instantaneous quantities of water ever used prior to the date of the adjudication claim;

     (f) The dates between which water is used annually;

     (g) If located outside the boundaries of a city, town, or special purpose district that provides water to property within its service area, the legal description and county tax parcel number of the land upon which the water as presently claimed has been, or may be, put to beneficial use;

     (h) The legal description and county tax parcel number of the subdivision of land on which the point of diversion or withdrawal is located as well as land survey and geographic positioning coordinates of the same if available;

     (i) Whether a right to surface or groundwater, or both, is claimed and the source of the surface water and the location and depth of all wells;

     (j) The legal basis for the claimed right;

     (k) Whether a statement of claim relating to the water right was filed under chapter 90.14 RCW or whether a declaration relating to the water right was filed under chapter 90.44 RCW and, if so, the claim or declaration number, and whether the right is documented by a permit or certificate and, if so, the permit number or certificate number. When the source is a well, the well log number must be provided, when available;

     (l) The amount of land and the annual and instantaneous quantities of water used thereon, or used for power or other purposes, that the defendant claims as a present right.

     (2) The adjudication claim shall be verified on oath by the defendant. The department shall furnish the form for the adjudication claim. A claimant may file an adjudication claim electronically if authorized under state and local court rules. The department may assist claimants in their effort by making the department's pertinent records and information accessible electronically or by other means and through conferring with claimants.