Elwha-Dungeness Watershed Planning (WRIA 18)

Lead agency contact:

Cathy Lear
Clallam County
(360) 417-2361
clear@co.clallam.wa.us

Ecology contact:

Cynthia Nelson
Department of Ecology
(360) 407-0276
cyne461@ecy.wa.gov

Implementation phase:

Planning phase: Plan Approved by Board of Commissioners June 7, 2005

Plan adopted: June 7, 2005

Optional elements: Quality, Habitat, Flows

Plan due: 4th Quarter 2003

Grants awarded: About $736,000 through June 2005

Plan website: Elwha-Dungeness Watershed Plan WRIA 18

Progress

The final Elwha-Dungeness Watershed Plan was approved by the Planning Unit in April 2004 and forwarded to Clallam County Board of Commissioners for review and consideration. An extended County-led review included several public hearings, meetings with stakeholders and public meetings co-sponsored by the County and Ecology. Members of the planning teams reviewed public comment and amended plan recommendations where consensus could be reached on the need for change and new language. The Board of Commissioners unanimously adopted the plan on June 7 2005.

Some Plan recommendations include:

Action by Ecology to adopt by rule the recommended instream flow levels for streams and tributaries except the mainstem Elwha River (pending dam removal) based on the flows recommended in the Plan and further public consultation.

Protection and continued restoration of flows in the Dungeness mainstem

Negotiation of ground water reservations to provide drinking water for growth while protecting late summer flows

Development of aquifer and off-channel storage and water conservation as sources of new supply and means to minimize effects on late season flows

Emphasis on the need for new development to use existing water systems wherever possible.

Related planning activities in the watershed include:

Watershed Planning Phase 4: The County expects in the near future to request grant funds for development of a detailed implementation plan. The County and planning unit will have one year to draft the plan.

Ecology Rulemaking: Ecology expects to adopt an instream flow and water management rule in 2008. Extensive consultation with planning unit members and the public will occur as part of this process. This will likely happen concurrently with development of the detailed implementation plan.

Instream Flow Restoration: Ecology and the water users piloted a three-year agreement (2003-2005) for leasing late-season irrigation water to benefit instream flows. Ongoing irrigation infrastructure improvements are continuing to reduce loss of conveyance water into the aquifer, enabling the Water Users to divert less water from the river.

Comprehensive Irrigation District Management Plan (CIDMP): Dungeness irrigators (Water Users Association), NOAA Fisheries, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe, Ecology and others participated in a pilot CIDMP addressing effects of irrigation operations on water quality and on Dungeness River fish habitat. The CIDMP incorporated the irrigation improvement projects included in the irrigators’ 1999 Sequim Dungeness Agricultural Water Users Association Comprehensive Water Conservation Plan. The CIDMP will serve as the foundation for the Water Users’ compliance with the federal Endangered Species and Clean Water Acts. Once a proposal has been agreed upon by the federal agencies and the irrigators, a draft NEPA document will be published for public review. The Final Environmental Impact Statement analysis developed for the agricultural water conservation plan will also be used to support the development of the NEPA document.

Groundwater Modeling: A groundwater model developed in 2002-2003 by Ecology was used to analyze effects of water management strategies on the aquifers and surface waters as part of watershed planning. The model has been developed as an integral piece of the Environmental Impact Statement evaluating effects of implementing the 1999 Sequim Dungeness Water Users’ Comprehensive Water Conservation Plan. This model is also being used to evaluate effects of water management options, looking at options for future additional groundwater withdrawals and the potential for seasonally recharging areas within the aquifer.

Shallow Aquifer Recharge/Aquifer Recharge and Recovery Feasibility Study: The County is undertaking a two year project to assess the feasibility of aquifer recharge, with assistance from a technical advisory group which includes the PUD, Ecology, Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe, Water Users Association, the City of Sequim and others. Several scenarios will be modeled, additional data is being gathered, and pilot studies may be conducted on both sides of the river as part of the study.

Federal Salmon Recovery Planning: Implementation of the Puget Sound Chinook recovery plan is ongoing. The Dungeness River is part of the Evolutionarily Significant Areas for both Puget Sound Chinook and the Hood Canal and Straits summer chum; bull trout are listed as well under the Endangered Species Act. The Dungeness River Management Team participated in development of the watershed’s chapter in the draft Puget Sound Chinook Recovery Plan. Individual members of the Elwha Morse Management Team were represented in planning for that area.

Local Salmon Recovery Planning: The Dungeness River Management Team continues to function as an integral part of the North Olympic Lead Entity’s process to review and prioritize salmon recovery funding requests being submitted to the Salmon Recovery Funding Board.

Restoration of Channel Function at the Dungeness Delta: A grant from the state Salmon Recovery Funding Board is supporting a multi-year appraisal and buy-out effort for landowners along the lowermost western edge of the river, behind the River's End dike This is in preparation for eventual restoration of river channel function, including handling flood flows, through dike set-back. Studies and modeling are also underway for developing the best options for dike set-backs in the reaches upriver of Schoolhouse Bridge. The Bureau of Reclamation is modeling the options, which have been presented to the public at a local workshop. More outreach is planned after modeling has been completed.

Water Quality: The Dungeness Clean Water Work Group continues its work on projects aimed at protecting and restoring water quality in the watershed and Dungeness Bay. This effort was recently enhanced by the Tribe’s receipt of an Environmental Protection Agency watershed initiatives grant of $1 million to improve water quality through diverse studies and projects.

Flood Planning: An updated draft of the Dungeness river flood hazard reduction plan has been developed by the County and an advisory group. The draft plan integrates consideration of habitat restoration as well as public safety. SEPA has yet to be completed. The County is currently updating flood maps with FEMA assistance.

The 1998 Trust Water Right Memorandum of Understanding between the Water Users and Ecology is still in effect. Water savings accrued under the agreement will be allocated to instream flows and future use by the Water Users for their adjudicated purposes. This will occur within the legal limits of their current water rights. Ecology and the Water Users are presently discussing work on superseding certificates to bring water rights into line with current water use.

A survey and analysis was completed by the U. S. Bureau of Reclamation on the relationship between mainstem low flows and side channel water levels. A more in-depth characterization of the Lower Dungeness River’s physical characteristics was completed by the Bureau of Reclamation; both are available for review at the Jamestown S’Klallam tribal offices.

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.