The state has heard from only a third of about 150 applicants for new water rights in the Yakima River sub-basin that includes West Richland, Richland and Badger Canyon.

They have until Friday to tell the state how to process their requests.

An administrative hold on issuing new water rights has been in place because of historic water shortages and concerns that authorizing new groundwater pumping would worsen the total water supply in the basin.

Those who have filed applications are asked to consider options such as mitigation of new water withdrawal or using covering under an existing senior water right.

For more information, call 509-575-2597.