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Department of Ecology News Release - May 23, 2006
06-087
OLYMPIA -The State Department of Ecology (Ecology) has amended the Skagit River management rule to create a secure future source of water for residents in the Skagit River basin, while also protecting "instream" flows of the river.
The amendment will go into effect June 16, 2006.
In addition, Skagit County and Ecology have reached a settlement agreement on water management in the Skagit River basin. "We praise the leadership of Skagit County for their constructive approach to addressing water management concerns," said Joe Stohr, special assistant to the director of Ecology.
State law requires Ecology to establish water-management rules for each major river basin to protect and preserve fish, wildlife, recreation, navigation, aesthetics, water quality and livestock watering.
The Skagit River is the largest river in Western Washington and supports all five species of salmon.
"The Skagit basin is a special place and the Skagit River is its centerpiece," said Ecology Director Jay Manning. "The river is important environmentally, especially for salmon recovery, and it is a critically important supply of water for the people in the basin," he said.
"We've developed this new rule with input from a wide range of community interests," Manning added. "We've listened to everyone's advice and created a rule amendment designed to keep the Skagit basin healthy while meeting future human needs."
Ecology adopted the original regulation in 2001 to keep water flowing in the upper and lower Skagit River and the Cultus Mountain tributaries; however, the regulation did not specifically provide water for future agricultural, home construction and new commercial or industrial activities.
The new rule amendment will continue to protect fish, wildlife, water quality and recreational uses. It also keeps the existing 2001 stream flows in place while allocating and reserving surface and groundwater for future agricultural irrigation, residential, commercial/industrial and livestock uses throughout the Skagit basin.
Because the Skagit basin sustains a large and vibrant agricultural industry, Ecology is reserving a quantity of water that will allow the availability of more than 2,000 acres of new agricultural irrigation water for farmers.
Additionally, the Skagit basin has experienced significant population and industrial growth that is predicted to continue. To meet the needs of this growth, Ecology is setting aside 9 million gallons per day of water for future residential, commercial/industrial and livestock watering needs.
Contact: Nelsa Brodie, Public Information Manager 360-407-7139
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
