March 7, 2000 was the date when the State of Washington's Department of Natural Resources began its drive to remove liveaboards from state waters. Here is what has happened since and where we stand now:

In March of 2000, liveaboard boaters in three Seattle marinas were told they could no longer live on their boats if those boats were over state-owned land. They were given until June 31, 2000, to vacate. The boaters immediately formed the Liveaboard Association of Puget Sound in order to fight the evictions. The group elected officers, began planning strategy and raising money. A committee started looking for an attorney. (The recruiting committee was told that suing the state would be an expensive process, with estimates by lawyers running as high as $100,000. LAPS responded with a series of fund-raising efforts, which so far have raised just under $25,000.)

In May, 2000, LAPS sued the DNR to stop the Seattle evictions.

In June, 2000, just before the eviction deadline, an agreement was reached between LAPS, DNR and the attorney general's office to allow the Lake Union liveaboards to remain in place until the suit is settled. However liveaboards were still forced to pay higher ""non-water-dependent rates", until such time as it was determined that DNR claims were unjustified, or the matter was settled.

In August 2000 LAPS sued again to stop DNR evictions, this time on behalf of a marina in Tacoma.

In the November 2000 election, then-current Lands Commissioner, Jennifer Belcher, instigator of the evictions, chose not to run. Doug Sutherland was elected. and he has pledged to make the liveaboard problem "go away."

In January 2001, efforts were begun by the principals - LAPS, DNR and the Attorney General's office - to settle the suit. This was based on the fact that there now is a change in DNR management and an agreement should be possible. Even so, LAPS Attorney Richard M. Stephens has informed LAPS that there are still some issues to be settled.

Legislation was drafted through Senate Bill 5037 which proposed to remedy the liveaboard situation, but held until determination if the current DNR Commissioner can accomplish the same thing through his office, without legislation. As of mid-March 2001, the principals are waiting for a "settlement meeting" to be arranged, with the hope and expectation that this will resolve the remaining details. This has been promised, but as yet, has not been ordered.