Crimes against water code — Interference with works — Wrongful use of water — Property destruction — Penalty.
RCW 90.03.410
in effect(1) Any person or persons who shall willfully interfere with, or injure or destroy any dam, dike, headgate, weir, canal or reservoir, flume, or other structure or appliance for the diversion, carriage, storage, apportionment, or measurement of water for irrigation, reclamation, power, or other beneficial uses, or who shall willfully use or conduct water into or through his or her ditch, which has been lawfully denied him or her by the water master or other competent authority, or shall willfully injure or destroy any telegraph, telephone, or electric transmission line, or any other property owned, occupied, or controlled by any person, association, or corporation, or by the United States and used in connection with said beneficial use of water, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor or, if there is actual physical injury to or destruction of any real or personal property, of property destruction and shall incur the penalties set forth in *RCW 9.61.070 . (2) Any person or persons who shall willfully or unlawfully take or use water, or conduct the same into his or her ditch or to his or her land, or land occupied by him or her, and for such purpose shall cut, dig, break down, or open any headgate, bank, embankment, canal or reservoir, flume, or conduit, or interfere with, injure, or destroy any weir, measuring box, or other appliance for the apportionment and measurement of water, or unlawfully take or cause to run or pour out of such structure or appliance any water, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor or, if there is actual physical injury to or destruction of any real or personal property, of property destruction and shall incur the penalties set forth in *RCW 9.61.070 . (3) The use of water through such structure or structures, appliance or appliances hereinbefore named after its or their having been interfered with, injured or destroyed, shall be prima facie evidence of the guilt of the person using it.
(1) Any person or persons who shall willfully interfere with, or injure or destroy any dam, dike, headgate, weir, canal or reservoir, flume, or other structure or appliance for the diversion, carriage, storage, apportionment, or measurement of water for irrigation, reclamation, power, or other beneficial uses, or who shall willfully use or conduct water into or through his or her ditch, which has been lawfully denied him or her by the water master or other competent authority, or shall willfully injure or destroy any telegraph, telephone, or electric transmission line, or any other property owned, occupied, or controlled by any person, association, or corporation, or by the United States and used in connection with said beneficial use of water, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor or, if there is actual physical injury to or destruction of any real or personal property, of property destruction and shall incur the penalties set forth in *RCW 9.61.070 .
(2) Any person or persons who shall willfully or unlawfully take or use water, or conduct the same into his or her ditch or to his or her land, or land occupied by him or her, and for such purpose shall cut, dig, break down, or open any headgate, bank, embankment, canal or reservoir, flume, or conduit, or interfere with, injure, or destroy any weir, measuring box, or other appliance for the apportionment and measurement of water, or unlawfully take or cause to run or pour out of such structure or appliance any water, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor or, if there is actual physical injury to or destruction of any real or personal property, of property destruction and shall incur the penalties set forth in *RCW 9.61.070 .
(3) The use of water through such structure or structures, appliance or appliances hereinbefore named after its or their having been interfered with, injured or destroyed, shall be prima facie evidence of the guilt of the person using it.
Source: WA Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=90.03&full=trueFetched: 6/29/2026