Chapter 173-525 WAC

This rulemaking will create Chapter 173-525 WAC Grays-Elochoman Instream Resources Protection and Water Management Program, which will establish the amount of water (“instream flow”) that would protect and reserve flow-dependent resources such as fish, wildlife, recreation, water quality, navigation and aesthetics.

Instream flows set in rule become water rights with priority dates of the effective date of the rule. The established flow levels will serve as benchmarks to determine whether additional water is available for future allocation beyond the needs of existing water rights, including the instream flows once adopted by rule.

Instream flows will be proposed for Grays and Elochoman rivers. Instream flows also may be proposed for a number of other tributaries within the watershed where habitat studies exist. This rule will establish reservations for future water supply for specific purposes and geographical areas, closures, and the administration of future water allocation and use. A maximum allocation will be set to limit appropriations from streams within the watershed when flows in these streams exceed the instream flows set in rule.

Work on this rule is delayed indefinitely.

Rulemaking timeline

Timeline

Announcement phase (CR-101)

Filing date:
March 2, 2005


Announcement documents

Rule development phase

4/19/2010

Rule proposal phase (CR-102)

Filing date:
April 18, 2010

Rule proposal documents:

Comment period

Comments were accepted through August 31, 2010.


Hearings were held:

  • May 26, 2010 - Longview, WA
  • May 27, 2010 - Morton, WA

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Accessibility

To request ADA accommodation for disabilities, or printed materials in a format for the visually impaired, contact Ecology's ADA Coordinator by email at ecyadacoordinator@ecy.wa.gov, or call 360-407-6831. People with impaired hearing may call Washington Relay Service at 711. People with speech disability may call TTY at 877-833-6341.