  |
|
|
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Dec. 3, 1998
98-206
CONTACT: Mary Getchell, Public Information Manager, (360) 407-6157; pager, (360) 534-8590
OLYMPIA - The Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology), in conjunction with Walla Walla County, must slow down its proposal to change how some water-right permits are processed in the Walla Walla River Basin.
Following considerable public comments on a proposed rule, Ecology is postponing a public hearing scheduled for Dec. 8. The proposed rule would allow Ecology to process certain applications for changes to water rights ahead of requests for new water-right permits.
"One of our main hopes in proposing the rule was to foster communications with the public about water use in the Walla Walla basin," said Keith Phillips, Ecology's Water Resources Program manager. "Ideas and opinions about the proposed rule and water use have been flooding our office. Now, we're looking at those ideas and considering changes to the proposed rule."
In general, Ecology processes water-right applications on the basis of public health and safety, enhancement to the environment and then by the oldest applications first within a geographic basin. In the Walla Walla River Basin, there are approximately 50 pending applications for new water-right permits, and about 62 applications that request changes to existing water rights. A change to a water right could involve the purpose of water use, the point of water withdrawal, the place of using water and/or adding several points of withdrawal.
"Much of the water in the Walla Walla basin is already being used. Issuing new water rights is very unlikely," said Phillips. "The proposed rule is consistent with our goal of making the most of developed water supply and avoiding more depletion of stream flows."
As proposed, the rule would give applicants who want to change their water right a choice to move to the head of the line if they met one or more of the following criteria:
"Most of the comments on the rule focus on the 10 percent savings and enhancement of the natural environment criterion," said Phillips. "There are mixed opinions on all of the rule, but one element is certainly clear - people want us to break the log jam on processing water right permits."
Ecology is reviewing comments on the rule and will work with Walla Walla County on how to proceed in the next couple of weeks.
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
