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Nisqually Watershed Planning (WRIA 11)
Lead agency contact:
George Walter
Nisqually Indian Tribe
(360) 438-8687
gwalter@nwifc.wa.gov
Ecology contact:
Chris Hempleman
Department of Ecology
(360) 407-0239
chem461@ecy.wa.gov
Implementation phase: Phase 4 – Plan Implementation
Planning phase:
Plan adopted: April 2004
Optional elements: Quality, Habitat, Flows
Grants awarded: $745,100 through June 2007
Plan website: www.NisquallyRiver.org
Progress
Pierce, Thurston, and Lewis counties adopted the Nisqually Watershed Plan in April 2004. The Nisqually Tribe was the lead agency and this was the first watershed plan adopted in the state. The Planning Unit began Phase 4 Implementation in November 2005. Key recommendations of the plan include sub-basin processing of water right applications, ongoing instream flow work in the Mashel basin and additional efforts in water conservation, reuse, and reclamation. A final Detailed Implementation Plan was completed in April 2007.Instream Flow Progress
Instream flows were set in 1981 (Chapter 173-511 WAC).
The Planning Group recommended existing closures should be maintained, unless new technical information suggests otherwise. It also recommended retaining instream flow levels in the Nisqually River, but doing more work on the Mashel River to improve stream flows and address the water supply needs of the town of Eatonville.
In 2005 Ecology completed Instream Flow Incremental Methodology (IFIM) studies for Mashel River, which included: hydrographs/exceedance curves, estimates of allocated water and actual water use, summary of habitat conditions, and an assessment of hydraulic continuity.
Publications
Documents prepared by the planning unit
- Final Implementation Plan for the Nisqually Watershed (4820 kilobytes)
Studies or data relevant to planning for this area
Washington State Department of Ecology home page
Please send additions or corrections to Chris Anderson, (360) 407-6634.