Watershed Planning > Watershed Planning Updates by WRIA > Hangman (Latah)

Hangman (Latah) Watershed Planning - WRIA 56

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Grants awarded through June 2008

$898,100

Projected grants July 2008 - June 2009 

$128,800

Background

Spokane and Whitman counties adopted the final Hangman (Latah) Creek Watershed Management Plan in September 2005. Phase 4 implementation started in October 2006, and the detailed implementation plan was completed in early 2008. Some of the plan recommendations include:

• Addressing compliance and enforcement of water rights and claims.
• Developing a drought management plan.
• Moving forward on instream flow rule recommendations.
• Investigating water rights trust and banking.
• Evaluating policies to limit the maximum daily withdrawal of domestic exempt wells to less than 5000 gallons per day.
• Adding further gaging and monitoring of both surface and ground water.
• Changing a water right source from surface to ground water where feasible.
• Restoring riparian habitat.
• Collaborating with Ecology and others on the TMDL development and implementation.
• Bolstering water conservation.

The planning group partnered with WRIAs 34 and 54 to conduct a geophysical orientation survey on the West Plains, where the water table is declining. After completing the detailed implementation plan in early 2008, the planning group moved forward on its stream gaging strategy. They installed a stream gage at the state line and in mid watershed, worked on a habitat restoration strategy, and took part in developing TMDLs for Hangman Creek. They also completed a stream restoration project at Rock Creek in Rockford. The Town of Rockford received funding to replace its leaky water storage tank, and upgrade its irrigation system to improve water conservation.

Instream flow status

The planning group completed an instream flow study to evaluate stream flow conditions primarily for fisheries. They developed flow recommendations for three levels of habitat protection, but could not achieve consensus before plan adoption.

The planning group continued to work on instream flow recommendations during 2008, and is closer to reaching consensus. They have agreed conceptually to a minimum instream flow, but want to develop recommendations for managing groundwater (specifically domestic exempt wells) before requesting Ecology to begin rulemaking. Significant growth is anticipated in Lower Hangman, within Spokane County, and increased use of domestic exempt wells for single and group homes is anticipated. Given the absence of any well monitoring network in the watershed and lack of data about groundwater, the planning group is seeking funds to:

• Establish a well monitoring network.
• Complete a detailed water supply and demand analysis.
• Complete groundwater inventory and mapping.

Link to other resources, studies, data

• Spokane River Basin
• WRIA 56