Washington State Department of Ecology Homepage > Water Resources Home > WRAC > WRAC Archive

ARCHIVE

2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004

2007

December 2007

November 2007

October 2007

September 2007

August 2007

July 2007

June 2007

  • June meeting has been canceled.  Next meeting is July 16, 2007

May 2007

April 2007

At our last meeting (March 19) I talked about the Governor's recent Executive Order on climate change.  Since that Order, Ecology and CTED have been busy forming specific committees that aim to tackle issues of critical importance to Washington state.  Of interest to the WRAC is the climate change committee on water resources.  The goal of these committees is to help shape informed climate change policy and planning decisions. To achieve that goal requires an appropriately sized stakeholder table.  Ideally, the table will be large enough to allow for the varied interests of stakeholders to be heard and debated, but not so large as to stall or prevent progress toward group consensus.  It is estimated that the water resources committee will be comprised of approximately a dozen individuals, not counting agency staff.

If you are interested in becoming a member of this committee, please send an email to Janice Adair, Special Assistant to the Director of Ecology.  While you may not get a proverbial seat at the table, the meetings will be open to the public.  More information about committee makeup and schedules will be forthcoming when these issues have been resolved (expected mid to late April). 

Please check out our climate change website for updates as well.

If you have questions or comments about this important endeavor, please respond to me, not Janice - I have more time available for answering questions than Janice does.

Thank you,

Kurt Unger, J.D., Ph.D.
Attorney/Hydrologist
Water Resources, Policy and Planning
WA Department of Ecology
360/407-7262

March 2007

The agencies request any comments on these draft documents be sent by April 9, 2007 to either Deana Taylor at the Department of Health deana.taylor@doh.wa.gov or Doug Rushton at Ecology drus461@ecy.wa.gov.

February 2007

  • Agenda
  • The Water Resources Program Policy POL 2010  - Defining and Delineation of Water Sources has been posted to the Web
  • The Water Resources Program Policy POL 2030  - 2003 Municipal Water Law Interpretive and Policy Statement has been posted to the Web

Presentations:

January 2007

Handouts:

As discussed at the January 22 meeting, here are some of the new Web Pages:

2006 Department of Ecology Permit Applicant Survey  The Department of Ecology has been working to improve the agency’s permitting processes and customer interactions around the following vision: The citizens of Washington trust that our employees will support and assist them in promoting the sustainable environmental and economic well-being of the state.

We have conducted three permit applicant surveys, in 2002, 2004 and 2006. We want to know what our customers think about our efforts to:

  • Improve the timeliness and predictability of our permitting services, and
  • Cultivate a supportive and problem-solving culture.

Climate Change - Global Warming   "Climate change poses a profound threat to Washington's and the world's environment. The potential adverse impacts are of a scale and magnitude that are beyond daunting. It is imperative that we take action now to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases."  Jay Manning Director, WA Dept. of Ecology

Water Resources Program Webpage Updates

 

2006

December 18, 2006 - Meeting Cancelled

November 27, 2006

October 16, 2006

September 18, 2006

August 21, 2006

The Water Resources Program Web pages have been updated. The updates are:

July 17, 2006

Announcement:

The Yakima Basin Storage Alliance (YBSA) is pleased to announce the Roundtable: "Salmon Restoration With Responsible Solutions". The roundtable will be held on August 15-16, 2006, at the Sun Dome in Yakima, Washington.

Handouts:

Municipal Water Law - Request for Action Regarding the Constitutionality of the Municipal Water Law and Attorney General Response

For discussion at the July 17, 2006 Meeting - Presented by Paul Fabiniak Ecology NWRO

For discussion at the July 17, 2006 Meeting - Presented by Bob Barwin  Ecology CRO

  • DRAFT POL 1005 - Internet Posting of Reports of Examination   Purpose: To encourage the use of Ecology’s internet site for posting draft reports of examination to obtain public comments prior to issuing the final decision. Application: This policy clarifies when draft reports of examination are posted for comment on Ecology’s internet site.  Send comments to Bob Barwin

Trust Water Rights Program Workshop - On July 6 and 7, 2006, Ecology hosted a workshop at Central Washington University in Ellensburg to present the draft guidance document for the Trust Water Rights Program. The workshop was attended by participants from Ecology, Fish and Wildlife, the Conservation Commission, the Clallam, Walla Walla, North Yakima, and Kittitas conservation districts, and the Washington Water Trust and Washington Rivers Conservancy.

June 19, 2006

Handouts:

Yakima Basin Water Budget Neutral Project Policy:

Draft Policy - Policy for the Collection and Beneficial Use of Humidity   
Comments or questions on this policy are requested and should be E-mailed to Don Davidson

May 5, 2006 Letter of request for a formal Attorney General Opinion on Ecology's authority to review decisions by Water Conservancy Boards   (large file -85 pages 4.6MB pdf)

May 15, 2006 - Meeting Cancelled

April 17, 2006

Handouts

A request from Kathy and Paul to WRAC Members:

We are looking for volunteers for Ecology’s Reclaimed Water Rule-Making Advisory Committee. EHB 2884 directs Ecology to establish an outside advisory committee by July 2006. The committee will address all aspects of reclaimed water standards. The rule deadline is December 1, 2010. The committee will be a broad range of interested individuals representing the various stakeholders that use or are impacted by the use of reclaimed water and individuals with technical expertise and knowledge of new advancements in technology. EHB 2884 also directs Ecology to prepare two interim legislative reports.

This is a broad rule-making effort and it is likely that some volunteers will be interested in only some parts of the bill.  Please e-mail me if you are willing to serve on the committee. Provide name, affiliation, telephone and e-mail address as well as areas of interest - such as water quality, public health protection, distribution and use, environmental uses, water rights impairment and mitigation, or other.

Katharine C. (Kathy) Cupps, P.E.
360-407-6452 phone
kcup461@ecy.wa.gov e-mail

For more information see Ecology's Water Quality Program Web Page - Water Reclamation and Reuse

March 20, 2006

Handouts/Presentations

February 27, 2006

Handouts

  • Comment Form for the Draft Policy - Emergency Water Source Authorization  (includes a link to the draft policy) Don Davidson requests your comments on this Draft Policy by March 27, 2006
  • Municipal Water Law Section 5(2) document on consistency, compliance and place of use
    The 5(2) document refers to the section on the Municipal Water Law (2E2SHB 1338) and deals with consistency, compliance and place of use coordination between water system planning and various aspects of our water rights/watershed planning work<

Symposium and Workshops

January 23, 2006

Handouts/Presentations

WRAC Meeting Dates - January to November 2006  Back to top

Time and place: 9 a.m. to noon, Ecology Headquarters building in Lacey, WA (basement auditorium)

  • January 23, 2006
  • February 27, 2006
  • March 20, 2006
  • April 17, 2006
  • May 15, 2006 - Cancelled
  • June 19, 2006
  • July 17, 2006
  • August 21, 2006
  • September 18, 2006
  • October 16, 2006
  • November 27, 2006
  • December 18, 2006 - Cancelled

2005

December 19, 2005

After the Water Resources Advisory Committee meeting on December 19, 2005, Water Resources staff met with the Director concerning the draft document on municipal water consistency, compliance, and place of use/service area [2E2SSHB 1338, Section 5(2)].

Originally we had hoped to distribute the documents prior to the end of the year, but we will not be distributing it until after we have discussed the concepts with the environmental community, tribes, local government and others.

We are attempting to set up meetings for these discussions to take place quickly.  If you have questions, please contact Doug Rushton at 360 407-6513.

Handouts/Presentation Materials
  • Friday December 19, 2005 Press Release - SKAGIT COUNTY DISMISSED FROM SWINOMISH TRIBAL LAWSUIT TO STOP BUILDING PERMITS MOUNT VERNON, WA - Specifically, the Swinomish lawsuit made two separate allegations. First, the tribes claimed that Skagit County was in breach of a 1996 Memorandum of Agreement by issuing building permits downstream of the Skagit PUD pipeline crossing (roughly east of Sedro-Woolley).  Second, the tribes claimed Skagit County was violating the State Building Code (RCW 19.27.097) by issuing building permits upstream and downstream of the PUD pipeline crossing.  On both legal theories the tribe sought a permanent injunction to bar Skagit County from issuing building permits where the development would be served by an exempt groundwater well.  The Upper Skagit Indian Tribe did not join in the lawsuit, and the Sauk-Suiattle Indian Tribe withdrew from the case after it was filed.
  • Bill Tracking Log - presented by Ted Sturdevant and Ken Slattery
  • Municipal Place of Use Language - For Changes and Transfers Including Situations Where an Entity Is Out Of Compliance, approved by the Water Resources Program Management Team on December 7, 2005
  • Draft Legislation - Columbia River Bill (Z-0966.2)  At the request of the Columbia River Task Force, the Department of Ecology has prepared draft legislation to define the elements of a new water resources management approach for the Columbia River.  In addition, the Task Force has scheduled it’s next meeting for January 05, 2006 (see below).  If you have any questions or comments on the draft, please contact Gerry O'Keefe.
From the November 28 meeting - Comments are requested from WRAC by January 30, 2006 on the Draft Policy - Use of Terms that Clarify Relationships Between Water Rights.

November 28, 2005

Comments are requested from WRAC on Draft Policy by January 30, 2006
  •  Final draft of the Policy - Use of Terms that Clarify Relationships Between Water Rights - presented by Don Davidson and Jill Walsh
Handouts/Presentation Materials Links to Web pages with information discussed at the meeting:

Links to information on the Water Resources Web:

October 17, 2005

Agenda

Handouts and Presentations

Policy and Procedure DRAFTS for discussion purposes.  Please contact Don Davidson ddav461@ecy.wa.gov or 360 407-6636 with comments before the next WRAC meeting on November 28.  

September 19, 2005

Agenda

September 9, 2005

Water Resources Grant Programs

The 2005 Legislature earmarked approximately $4.2 million in grant funding to pay for water-storage planning projects, water-conveyance projects designed to support watershed planning efforts, and small grants to local watershed planning groups that have completed their watershed plans.

These grants are available on a competitive basis. The Department of Ecology will score each application based on the individual grant criteria developed for the three different types of grants.

August 15, 2005

Handouts

Link to the Drought Press Releases webpage

Interpretive Statement for ESHB 2309 Water Right Processing Fees

Background information

In April 2005, Gov. Christine Gregoire signed a new law that updates the fee structure for new water right applications, water-storage applications, water-right change applications, and inspection fees for hydraulic works. This is the first time the fee structure has been amended since 1951.

  • Statutory fees and the basis for calculation of these fees were amended by Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2309. The new fee structure goes into effect Monday, July 25, 90 days after adjournment of the legislative session.
  • The act added a new section to and amended RCW 90.03.470, and added a new section to RCW 90.14.
  • Statutory fees related to acquiring a water right or storing water, and the basis for the calculation of these fees, were amended. Fees for applications to transfer, change, or amend a water-right certificate, permit, or claim, and the fee for a temporary or seasonal change also were amended.
  • Other water right-related fees were amended, too. Fees for applications to extend time for beginning construction work or completing an application for putting water to beneficial use, fees for recording assignments, preparing and issuing water rights certificates, amending water right claims, and filing formal protests against granting an application all were amended.
  • No fee is required to comment on a water right application.
  • Inspection fees of hydraulic works have been changed such that with some exceptions, a fee based on the actual cost of the inspection, including expenses, is required.

DRAFT Interpretive Statement

Contact Information

Please provide Interpretive Statement comments on or before the August 15 WRAC meeting to:

Don Davidson
WR Policy and Planning Section
360 407-6636
ddav461@ecy.wa.gov

Ecology also is working on a second of two interpretive statements regarding Engrossed Substitute House Bill (ESHB) 2309 as it relates to the Water Conservancy Board statute (RCW 90.80 and WAC 173-153).

We are updating this DRAFT Interpretive Statement Implementation and will post it on the WRAC Web site as soon as it is ready. We have removed the previous draft.

Contact Information

For more information regarding how ESHB 2309 relates to Water Conservancy Boards, please contact:

Janet L. Carlson
WR Policy and Planning Section
509 329-3421
jaca461@ecy.wa.gov

July 18, 2005

  • The July 18, 2005 WRAC meeting is cancelled.  The next WRAC meeting will be held on August 15, 2005.

June 20, 2005

  • Agenda - Updated version 06/20/2005

Handouts

May 16, 2005

Handouts:

April 18, 2005

Handouts:

  1. Please send your comments regarding the Determining Irrigation Efficiency and Consumptive Use draft guidance document by Tuesday, May 31, 2005 to: Don Davidson (360) 407- 6636 or ddav461@ecy.wa.gov
  2. Status of Water Resources Bills April 15, 2005
  3. Bill Tracking - 2005 House Bills
  4. House Bill 2166 - Short synopsis of bill
  5. Drought Monitor Maps

March 31, 2005

Drought-emergency Web Pages Updated

We have added a web page with information about the Yakima Water Transfer Working Group, and a page for the 1-800 number for emergency drought information.

View the 2005 Drought web pages

March 21, 2005

Web Links

Handouts

February 28, 2005

January 24, 2005

2004

2004 Published Reports for the 2005 Legislative Session - a page with links to 7 Water Resource Reports to the legislature.

WRAC Meeting Dates - January to December 2005

Time and place: 9 a.m. to noon, Ecology Headquarters building in Lacey, WA (basement auditorium)

  • January 24, 2005 -- This is the Monday AFTER Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday
  • February 28, 2005 -- This is the Monday AFTER Presidents' Day holiday
  • March 21, 2005
  • April 18, 2005
  • May 16, 2005
  • June 20, 2005
  • July 18, 2005
  • August 15, 2005
  • September 19, 2005
  • October 17, 2005
  • November 28, 2005 -- This is the Monday AFTER the long Thanksgiving weekend holiday
  • December 19, 2005

Funding Task Force Report

The Water Resources Administration and Funding Task Force has completed its work and provided a report to the legislature.

Water Resources Administration and Funding Task Force Report (1.7MB pdf)

December 13, 2004

We have decided to cancel the next WRAC meeting, scheduled for next Monday, Dec. 13.

It is our goal to make our meetings as useful and meaningful as possible for everyone. We still have many issues on the table that will continue to interest us all, including but not limited to:

  • Columbia River Initiative Setting Instream Flows & Water Management Plans
  • Legal Issues and Court Cases
  • Water Resources Funding Task Force
  • Budget Issues
  • Water-related Legislation
  • Water Resources Program rulemaking, policies and procedures

However, due to a variety of factors, many of these issues simply will not be ready for discussion by Monday December 13.  There will be breaking information on a variety of topics, including the Columbia River Initiative and the Water Resources Funding Task Force report to the Legislature. We will do our utmost to keep you all informed using our e-mail list and our WRAC Web site.

We will notify you when new items are posted on the site before our next WRAC meeting, scheduled for January 24. 2005. In the meantime, please let me know if you have any questions, comments or concerns.

November 15, 2004

Request for comments from WRAC:  This is the guidance document for allocating water for instream flows. We will be taking comments on this document and we would like your comments by Friday, Dec. 3. Please send your comments to Hedia Adelsman at e-mail: hade461@ecy.wa.gov or by phone at 360-407-6222.

For those of you who have Microsoft Word there is a word document for you to read, make comments, save on your PC, then attach to the e-mail you send to Hedia.  If you do not have MS Word, there is a pdf you can read.