Water management rule filed for Quilcene-Snow watershed

Washington State Department of Ecology

Department of Ecology News Release - May 21, 2009

09-118

Water management rule filed for Quilcene-Snow watershed

OLYMPIA – Responding to increasing demands for a limited resource, the Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) today filed a rule to help protect current water uses and meet future needs in the Quilcene-Snow watershed.

The proposed rule encompasses eastern Jefferson County. It will only apply to those seeking new ground and surface water uses after the rule is adopted. It offers protection to existing water users who would otherwise be at risk of competing for water in the future without this rule.

To review the rule and access other helpful information explaining Ecology’s rule process, visit www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wr/instream-flows/quilsnowbasin.html.

The public can provide written comment on the proposed rule through 5 p.m. on July 10, 2009. The public is also invited to submit comments during a hearing on June 25 at the Fort Worden Commons, 210 Battery Way, Port Townsend. A presentation begins at 6:30 p.m., followed by a hearing at 7:30 p.m.

Watershed-specific research indicates low stream flows and endangered fish populations, in combination with expected demand for more water to support housing and agriculture, are among the factors impacting water supplies. Ecology's rule development follows a local planning unit’s 2003 recommendation supporting continued work toward establishing instream flow rules in the watershed.

"We’re one step closer to realizing the goal of protecting water for those who currently live in and enjoy the natural resources of the Quilcene-Snow watershed while planning for the demands of projected growth," said Tom Loranger, Ecology’s regional water resources manager. "While not everyone may agree with each element of the rule, we all want to ensure there's enough water to go around for many years to come."

Major elements of the proposed rule include:

Setting instream flow levels on 13 streams in 11 sub-basins to protect aquatic resources, including habitat for threatened and endangered salmonids.
Closing all streams to future surface water and groundwater withdrawals that would diminish flows. Exceptions are made for seasonal water use from Chimacum Creek and the Big Quilcene River and the creation of reserves.
Establishing a conservation standard for new permit-exempt well use to benefit in-stream resources and to better manage limited supply (500 gallons-per-day maximum not to exceed an annual average of 350 gallons per day).
Establishing reserves of water for future use and specifying the conditions required in order to access them.
Establishing “coastal management areas” to protect small coastal drainages, and requiring use of the conservation standard for new wells in these areas.
Allowing the collection and use of rooftop rainwater, provided all water is used on site.

In addition to the public hearing, Ecology is accepting written comments through July 10, 2009: Send comments to:

Ann Wessel, Department of Ecology Water Resources Program PO Box 47600 Olympia, WA 98504-7600 awes461@ecy.wa.gov.

Enter comments online at the Quilcene-Snow Web site: www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wr/instream-flows/quilsnowbasin.html.

Ecology will evaluate all comments received by the deadline for possible changes to the proposed rule. The earliest Ecology can adopt the rule is August 28, 2009. The rule takes effect 30 days after it’s adopted.

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Media Contact: Kim Schmanke, 360-407-6239

For more information: Quilcene-Snow rule: www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wr/instream-flows/quilsnowbasin.html

General instream flow work: www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wr/instream-flows/isfhm.html