Washington State Department of Ecology

Wind-White Salmon Watershed Planning (WRIA 29)

Lead agency contact:

Karen Witherspoon
Skamania County
(509) 427-9458
witherspoon@co.skamania.wa.us

Ecology contact:

Scott McKinney
Department of Ecology
(360) 407-6389
scmk461@ecy.wa.gov

Implementation phase:

Planning phase: Phase 2

Optional elements: Quality, Habitat

Plan due: 2nd Quarter 2005

Grants awarded: $500,000 through June 2005

Initiating governments: Klickitat County, Yakima County, City of White Salmon, Skamania County, Skamania PUD, Yakama Nation

Progress

The Planning Unit has completed a Phase 2 Level 1 assessment and is scoping Level 2 assessment work. The Level 1 assessment is available at Ecology. Interest remains high in Planning Unit activities, with more than 30 people regularly attending meetings. Significant results and findings include:

Projected population growth is relatively low, with an expected increase from approximately 13,500 to approximately 19,500 by 2020.

Irrigated areas with certificates, permits and claims total 13,518 acres, with 76% located in the White Salmon sub-basin.

Total water allocation claims, permits and certificates for the White Salmon, Rock Creek, Wind River, and Little White Salmon add up to 10% or less of median stream flow.

The Planning Unit developed a detailed instream flow proposal, but ultimately voted to not request a supplemental instream flow grant from Ecology. This was largely due to concerns with having responsibility for developing flow recommendations. Condit Dam on the White Salmon River is proposed to be decommissioned in 2006. If the decision is made to go forward, the Planning Unit will need to determine whether or not to address surrounding issues in their watershed plan.

Studies or data relevant to planning for this area

Wind-White Salmon (29)

Other resources

Washington State Department of Ecology home page

Please send additions or corrections to Chris Anderson, (360) 407-6634.