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Columbia-Snake River Irrigators Association
MEDIA RELEASE
November 28, 2018
Further Information: 509-783-1623
Loyal Pig Defends Water Rights
From Ecology Relinquishment Actions
For a second time, t he Benton/Franklin County Superior Court (WA) has ordered the Washington
State Dept. of Ecology (Water Resources Program) to stop water right relinquishment actions against Loyal
Pig, LLC, as well as toward other statewide water rights. The Court’s order further reinstates a water right
transfer previously approved by the Franklin County Water Conservancy Board, and prevents Ecology from
usurping fundamental water law provisions protecting rights from unlawful relinquishment.
Joining Loyal Pig in defending statewide water rights, the Columbia-Snake River Irrigators
Association (CSRIA) stressed that perhaps the most important piece of the state water code, the five-year
period for relinquishment protection, was being corrupted by Ecology. CSRIA argued that water rights
subjected to either a judicial adjudication or administrative determination receive a five-year “period of
grace” for non-use. During this period, the full consumptive amount of the right is available for transfer.
Ecology attempted to stop the water right transfer and invoke relinquishment, but the Superior Court has
twice ordered otherwise.
CSRIA Board Representative Darryll Olsen called Ecology’s actions “an unfortunate display of poor
judgement, at all technical, legal, and managerial levels. This legal fight should never have happened, and
Ecology spurned attempts by CSRIA to engage in reasoned discourse with the Water Resources Program
leadership.” Olsen further conveyed “that the Water Resources Program should never be attempting to use
the water right change/transfer statutes as a vehicle to relinquish (take away) water rights. It totally defeats
the purpose of water right transfers, water conservation actions, and water marketing.”
Loyal Pig, LLC, is part of a water right change/transfer for high-value irrigated wine grape
production along the Columbia River, Horse Heaven Hills area. The CSRIA represents many Eastern WA
irrigators and municipal entities, and is a champion for promoting water use efficiency, water right
change/transfers, and responsible water marketing 1
1
See CSRIA.org for more information about CSRIA activities.
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