Ecology home > Watershed Planning >
Skokomish-Dosewallips Watershed Planning (WRIA 16)
Announcement:
Final Detailed Implementation Plan being drafted
The Planning Unit is now developing a Detailed Implementation Plan that will result in a road-map for turning plan recommendations into reality. The implementation plan is scheduled for completion by June 2008.
New Legislation Passes to Include Hood Canal South Shore
The 2008 legislature passed a bill (SB 6204) that “splits” WRIA 14 into 2 separate areas for watershed planning purposes. The portion of WRIA 14 (Kennedy – Goldsborough) that drains into the southern portion of lower Hood Canal has been labeled WRIA 14(b). The legislation directs that the WRIA 16 Planning Unit include WRIA 14(b) as a part of their planning and implementation efforts. The bill has been signed by the Governor and has an effective date of June 12, 2008.
Lead agency contact:
Pam Bennett-Cumming
Mason County Department of Community Development
(360) 427-9670 ext. 287
pambc@co.mason.wa.us
Ecology contact:
Phil Wiatrak
Department of Ecology
(360) 407-6652
pwia461@ecy.wa.gov
Implementation phase:
Planning phase: Phase 4 - Developing a Detailed Implementation Plan
Initiating governments: Mason County, Mason PUD #1, Jefferson County, Skokomish Tribe
Progress
During 2002, the Planning Unit completed a draft Phase 2 Level 1 Technical Assessment, which identified and detailed what is known about water issues in the watershed. A key finding concludes that while much less than 1% of the total amount of available water is actually used, there are still serious availability problems in the watershed during the low-flow summer months.Supplemental grant funds were awarded in 2003 for water quality and instream flow assessments. The focus for 2003 and 2004 included identifying and prioritizing "data gaps" based on the Level 1 assessment, collecting instream flow measurements, monitoring water quality, and developing goals, objectives and an outline for the final plan. A major unresolved issue is Cushman Dam. The Skokomish Tribe is challenging the federal relicensing of the project; arguing that the current diversions from the Skokomish River North Fork are affecting salmon protection. Since this matter is in Federal Court, the Planning Unit will not be considering recommendations for that river system.
The Planning Unit completed and adopted the Comprehensive Watershed Management Plan in May 2006. The Mason and Jefferson Boards of County Commissioners held a joint meeting on July 11, 2006 to consider final approval of the plan. This followed public hearings in each of the counties and a unanimous Planning Unit recommendation that the plan be adopted. The commissioners voted 6 to 0 to approve the plan. A copy is available by clicking on the link under Documents Prepared by The Planning Unit, below.
Planning Unit meetings are open to the public and are generally held twice a month. To get on an e-mail distribution list and obtain the latest information on progress being made contact:
Susan Gulick, Project Manager - Sound Resolutions
Susan@soundresolutions.com
(206) 548-0469
Documents prepared by the planning unit
- Webb Hill Biosolids Facility Hydrogeologic Investigation - Phase 1 (5518 kilobytes)
- WRIA 16 Watershed Management Plan (5539 kilobytes)
- WRIA 16 Watershed Management Plan Executive Summary (5086 kilobytes)
- Final Preliminary Assessment of Hood Canal Streams (2417 kilobytes)
- WRIA 16 Planning Unit Members (11 kilobytes)
- Hydrogeologic Study of the Lower Dosewallips/Brinnon Area (107903 kilobytes)
- Skokomish-Dosewallips Basin Watershed Planning (WRIA 16) Level 1 Assessment - Draft
- WRIA 16 Rivers For Life Newsletter (1498 kilobytes)
Studies or data relevant to planning for this area
Other resources
Washington State Department of Ecology home page
Please send additions or corrections to Chris Anderson, (360) 407-6634.