Publication Summary

The Washington State Department of Ecology is amending Chapter 173-503 WAC. The main features of this rule amendment include:

--creating reservations of a limited amount of water for specific future uses that are not subject to the existing instream flows --establishing closures for tributaries --defining conditions for future water right permitting

The rule amendment also changes previously interruptible water supplies into uninterruptible water supplies, and may reduce instream flow levels. It provides additional benefits to various out-of-stream water users, and also may reduce various environmental values.

This document includes three analyses:

--The cost benefit analysis which concludes that the probable benefit of the rule amendment is greater than the probable cost; --The maximum net benefit analysis which concludes that the structure of the reservation will tend to maximize net benefits for water allocated to out of stream uses; --The least burdensome alternative analysis which concludes that it is likely that the rule amendment is the least burdensome option for all those who are required to comply that will achieve the general goals of the authorizing statutes.

This analysis has been revised based on new data and comments received after the proposed rule amendment was filed.