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Department of Ecology News Release - March 13, 2007
07-052
OLYMPIA - Progress on Watershed Planning and Setting Instream Flows, The Columbia River Water Management Program, Water Banking, Conservancy Boards and Dam Safety are among new reports to the Legislature posted by Ecology's Water Resources Program on Ecology's Water Resources Home page: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wr/wrhome.html.
When the Watershed Planning Act was passed by the Legislature in 1998, it provided a framework for local citizens, in collaboration with local, state and tribal governments to develop watershed plans that address the future water needs for their communities. Since 1998, planning units have been formed in 37 communities and 22 watershed plans have been adopted by county governments.
Gale Blomstrom, Ecology's watershed planning coordinator said: "Since 1998, nearly half of our state's watersheds have plans either in place or moving forward to better manage increasingly scarce water for the benefit of growers, homeowners, businesses, tribes, fish and a growing economy." The 42-page report, Progress on Watershed Planning and Setting Instream Flows provides a comprehensive outline of the progress and may be found on the website.
Washington State has a robust dam safety program with a very high national rating, according to Doug Johnson, dam safety supervisor. According to the report, Status of High and Significant Hazard Dams in Washington with Safety Deficiencies,", 27 of 900 dams under the state's jurisdiction do not meet modern standards for earthquakes or floods, but they pose no imminent danger or threat. Ecology officials are working with the dam owners to correct any deficiencies or concerns. Dams that are under Ecology's jurisdiction are inspected every five years.
"If any dam posed a threat, we would take urgent measures, but as dams age, they need upgrades or repairs to meet flood or earthquake safety standards," Johnson said. "Embankments may need strengthening or spillways may need fixing."
Johnson notes the agency is working with its partners at the local level, along with dam owners, to bring them up to compliance. The report, found on Ecology's website, is provided every two years to the Senate Water, Energy and Telecommunication Committee and to the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee.
Water supply and demand is the subject of the first legislative report under the Columbia River Water Management Program. Under House Bill 2860, the Legislature set an ambitious schedule for this water management program and, since the legislation became effective on July 1, Ecology and its partners have hit the ground running. The report, Water Supply Inventory and Long Term Water Supply and Demand Forecast, is also available online.
Washington State has had specific statutory authority to perform water banking since July of 2003 when the legislature passed provisions that allowed water rights to be "banked" or put into trust under a statewide program. Water banking is a way to help water users conserve and share water and to be prepared when droughts occur. The report, Water Banking in Washington State, evaluates the effectiveness of water banking under the law, describes statutory, regulatory or other impediments to water banking in the state, and makes recommendations for future efforts.
These reports, along with a report on Water Conservancy Boards, Yakima Basin Camps and Cabin Owners, as well as a piece titled "Issue Up Close: Successfully Managing Our Water" can all be found on the Water Resources Home Page of Ecology's website: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wr/wrhome.html
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Media contact: Nelsa Brodie, 360-407-7139
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
