Hydrogeological Society Takes Issue With Ecology

The Washington State Hydrogeological Society is criticizing the Department of Ecology over a new directive affecting water-right applications.

WSHS states that Washington’s engineering licensing statute, in place since 1935, has always encompassed hydrogeologic work. When the geology and hydrogeology licensing program was created in 2000, the Legislature explicitly preserved the scope of engineering practice. Ecology’s new interpretation, WSHS argues, contradicts that statutory framework and attempts to impose new licensing restrictions without legislative or regulatory authority.

This Is Regulatory Overreach

According to WSHS, the agency’s reinterpretation was issued without rulemaking, without public process, and without coordination with the Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors, the only body empowered to interpret engineering licensure in Washington.

WSHS characterizes Ecology’s approach as “regulatory overreach that bypasses established legal channels”, adding the change could delay irrigation projects, groundwater development and other agricultural infrastructure, increasing costs for farmers and water users.

Washington Cannot Afford Unnecessary Disruptions

According to WSHS, “the directive introduces regulatory instability at a time when Washington’s water, transportation, and agricultural systems cannot afford unnecessary disruption.”

Ecology has warned applications not meeting the new requirement could be denied. The Hydrogeological Society is calling on the agency to withdraw the directive and review the policy through the state's licensing process.

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