{"data":{"id":"us-wa/rcw-77.57.020","jurisdiction":"us-wa","citation":"RCW 77.57.020","heading":"Review of permit applications to divert or store water—Water flow policy.","body":"It is the policy of this state that a flow of water sufficient to support game fish and food fish populations be maintained at all times in the streams of this state.\nThe director of ecology shall give the director notice of each application for a permit to divert or store water. The director has thirty days after receiving the notice to state his or her objections to the application. The permit shall not be issued until the thirty-day period has elapsed.\nThe director of ecology may refuse to issue a permit if, in the opinion of the director of ecology, issuing the permit might result in lowering the flow of water in a stream below the flow necessary to adequately support food fish and game fish populations in the stream.\nThe provisions of this section shall in no way affect existing water rights.","path":["Title 77","Chapter 77.57"],"source_url":"https://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=77.57.020","current_through":"July 15, 2026","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-06T04:15:26Z","sha256":"86c72f301a987c8dbf918e37c896731b58a406f9563413dd66dd233a2dea1450","source_id":"us-wa","stale":false,"prev":"us-wa/rcw-77.57.010","next":"us-wa/rcw-77.57.030"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}