Publication Summary

The Washington State Department of Ecology is amending Chapter 173-532 WAC, Water Resources Program for the Walla Walla River Basin, Water Resources Inventory Area (WRIA) 32. The key amendments include: • Establishing instream flow water rights. • Modifying seasonal surface waters closures. • Closing the gravel aquifers, which are directly connected to surface water sources. • Limiting future withdrawals during high flow periods to projects resulting in net environmental benefits. • Managing future permit-exempt groundwater withdrawals from the gravel aquifer, in "high density" areas by: - Limiting the total amount of water for domestic uses and irrigation of lawn and garden to 1,250 gallons per day for one residence and 5,000 gpd for multiple residences in one development. - Requiring water for water mitigation for outdoor watering. - Metering permit-exempt uses. - Limiting stock watering.