Construction — 2003 c 144.

RCW 90.42.138

in effect

Nothing in chapter 144, Laws of 2003 may be construed to: (1) Affect or modify any treaty or other federal rights of an Indian tribe, or the rights of any federal agency or other person or entity arising under state or federal law; (2) Affect or modify the rights or jurisdictions of the United States, the state of Washington, the Yakama Nation, or other person or entity over waters of any river or stream or over any groundwater resource; (3) Alter, amend, repeal, interpret, modify, or be in conflict with any interstate compact made by the states; (4) Alter, establish, or impair the respective rights of states, the United States, the Yakama Nation, or any other person or entity with respect to any water or water-related right; (5) Alter, diminish, or abridge the rights and obligations of any federal, state, or local agency, the Yakama Nation, or other person or entity; (6) Affect or modify the rights of the Yakama Indian Nation or its successors in interest to, and management and regulation of, those water resources arising or used, within the external boundaries of the Yakama Indian Reservation; (7) Affect or modify the settlement agreement between the United States and the state of Washington filed in Yakima county superior court with regard to federal reserved water rights other than those rights reserved by the United States for the benefit of the Yakama Indian Nation and its members; or (8) Affect or modify the rights of any federal, state, or local agency, the Yakama Nation, or any other person or entity, public or private, with respect to any unresolved and unsettled claims in any water right adjudications, or court decisions, including State v. Acquavella , or constitute evidence in any such proceeding in which any water or water-related right is adjudicated. Nothing in chapter 144, Laws of 2003 may be construed to: (1) Affect or modify any treaty or other federal rights of an Indian tribe, or the rights of any federal agency or other person or entity arising under state or federal law; (2) Affect or modify the rights or jurisdictions of the United States, the state of Washington, the Yakama Nation, or other person or entity over waters of any river or stream or over any groundwater resource; (3) Alter, amend, repeal, interpret, modify, or be in conflict with any interstate compact made by the states; (4) Alter, establish, or impair the respective rights of states, the United States, the Yakama Nation, or any other person or entity with respect to any water or water-related right; (5) Alter, diminish, or abridge the rights and obligations of any federal, state, or local agency, the Yakama Nation, or other person or entity; (6) Affect or modify the rights of the Yakama Indian Nation or its successors in interest to, and management and regulation of, those water resources arising or used, within the external boundaries of the Yakama Indian Reservation; (7) Affect or modify the settlement agreement between the United States and the state of Washington filed in Yakima county superior court with regard to federal reserved water rights other than those rights reserved by the United States for the benefit of the Yakama Indian Nation and its members; or (8) Affect or modify the rights of any federal, state, or local agency, the Yakama Nation, or any other person or entity, public or private, with respect to any unresolved and unsettled claims in any water right adjudications, or court decisions, including State v. Acquavella , or constitute evidence in any such proceeding in which any water or water-related right is adjudicated.

Source: WA Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=90.42&full=trueFetched: 6/29/2026