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; and Managing future permit-exempt groundwater withdrawals from the gravel aquifer, in high density areas. Outside of high density areas permit exempt wells are allowed in accordance with RCW 90.44.050.