OLYMPIA - Governor Christine Gregoire has signed State Rep. Judy Warnick's water relinquishment bill into law, putting pen to the measure on March 7.

Warnick has worked to update water relinquishment laws since taking office.

This legislation will prevent a relinquishment of water rights for water rights holders simply because they are waiting in line to change or transfer their right. Without this exemption, rights holders who do not use all of their allotment after five years could lose their entire allotment.

"It's important to understand that if we restrict landowners too much, they do not have the freedom to conserve water they are not using," Warnick said. "Use it or lose it' is a restrictive practice, and this bill is a great step toward more common-sense water laws."