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Water Resources > > Measuring Water Use >  Yakima River Basin Metering and Reporting > FAQ Applying for Cost-Sharing for Water Measuring Devices

Frequently Asked Questions - Applying for Cost-Sharing for Water Measuring Devices

Yakima County Superior Court has ordered, consistent with RCW 90.03.360, all water right owners with confirmed water rights in the Yakima River Basin to install an approved metering or measuring device at each confirmed surface water diversion point below 2,000 feet elevation by April 1, 2006. Those with confirmed rights with diversion points above 2,000 feet elevation shall have an approved metering or measuring device installed by April 1, 2007.  Printable copy of this FAQ

• When will cost-share funds be available?
• What are the Eligibility Requirements for Obtaining Cost-share Assistance?
• Is there any priority being followed for cost-share?
• What does cost-share funding cover?
• What is not eligible for cost-sharing?
• Is there assistance for financial hardship?
• Where do I make application?
• Which Conservation Districts have an agreement with Ecology?
• What are the responsibilities of the water right holder for obtaining cost-share?
• What are the cost share criteria?
• Review, Cost-share amounts and Cost-share agreements
• Contacts

Q: When will cost-share funds be available?
A. Cost-share funds will be available after December 1, 2005.

Q: What are the Eligibility Requirements for Obtaining Cost-share Assistance?
A: The only requirement is that an applicant must have a valid water right claim, permit, certificate, or adjudicated certificate for the point of diversion or withdrawal.  In the Yakima Basin Adjudication, water users must have a valid water right recognized in the Conditional Final Order for the sub-basin where the diversion is located.

Q: Is there any priority being followed for cost-share?
A: Water users in fish-critical basins will be given highest priority, and Ecology expects that most funds will be used in these basins. Groundwater users in the fish-critical basins are also encouraged to apply and participate in the metering program. Many groundwater users have a provision on their water right requiring metering. While fish-critical basins are the highest priority, Ecology expects that funds will also be available for water users in non-fish-critical basins.

• Map of 16 Fish Critical Watersheds (288 KB PDF)

Q: What does cost-share funding cover?
A: Cost-share funding is only for metering projects to measure a diversion or withdrawal. Cost-share funding is also available for equipment for Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition, or SCADA. SCADA consists of data-loggers, data transmission equipment (telemetry), and computer equipment for automating a system.

Based on the information submitted in an application, Ecology or the Conservation District accepting an application will determine the amount of cost-share for a project.

Q: What is not eligible for cost-sharing?
A: Meters for measuring distribution within a municipal distribution system are not eligible.  Irrigation district customers where the irrigation district measures diversions or withdrawals are also not eligible.

Q: Is there assistance for financial hardship?
A: Yes. The percent of cost-share can be changed based on financial hardship.  The maximum state share, in all cases, is $45,000.00.  To be considered for financial hardship, the applicant should check the box on the application form and request financial assistance. The following information must be submitted:

• The two most recent years of individual, partnership, or corporate tax returns;
• The two most recent financial statements for your business associated with water use;
• Current balance in personal and business savings and checking accounts;
• Other documentation that would support the request, such as statements from doctors, bankers, accountants, etc., verifying financial difficulties of an applicant.

Based on the information submitted, the Conservation district or Ecology will determine eligibility for financial hardship and determine the amount of additional cost-share funding.

Q: Where do I make application?
A: Ecology has entered into agreements with several Conservation Districts in the fish-critical basins for evaluating applications and disbursing cost-share funds.

If a Conservation District has an agreement with Ecology, obtain the Conservation District’s application form from the Conservation District, complete it, and submit it to the Conservation District for review and approval.

If a Conservation District does not have an agreement with Ecology or a participating Conservation District, obtain an application form from Ecology, complete it, and submit it to the regional office of Ecology for review and approval.

If you must apply to Ecology for cost-share, contact the regional office in your area or go to the:

• Yakima River Basin Metering and Reporting Web site
• Measuring Water Use Web site.

Q: Which Conservation Districts have an agreement with Ecology?
A: In the Eastern Region, the Asotin County, Columbia, Pomeroy, and Walla Walla County Conservation Districts have agreements with Ecology for cost-share funding.

In the Central Region, the Kittitas County, Cascadia, and North Yakima Conservation Districts have agreements with Ecology for cost-share funding.  Franklin Conservation District has an agreement to administer cost-share funding for the Columbia River Program.

In the Northwest Region, an agreement is in place with the Whatcom Conservation District. Applicants for cost-share in the Whatcom Conservation District should submit applications to the Whatcom Conservation District office. Applications for cost-share in the rest of the Northwest Region should be submitted to Ecology’s Northwest Region Office regional contact.

In the Southwest Region, all applications for cost-share will be evaluated and processed through the Regional contact for the Southwest Region.

• Contact list for Regional Offices
• For additional information about cost-share funding agreements

Q: What are the responsibilities of the water right holder for obtaining cost-share?
A: A water right holder must submit an application, sign an agreement, and submit a completed invoice for cost reimbursement to receive cost-share funding. The water right holder is also responsible for the first $250 of the cost for a metering or measuring device.  Cost-share is available for costs exceeding $250.00. 

Q: What are the Cost-share criteria?

A: Cost-share would be available for funding 100% of the cost of design, purchase, and installation of SCADA equipment, including telemetry, for small-scale users.  Small-scale users are users diverting or withdrawing less than 200 cubic feet per second (cfs).

Components include basic equipment to full-scale SCADA described below:

• Basic equipment consists of a data-logger and a PDA (personal digital assistant or hand-held computer) for downloading data from the data-logger.
• Basic telemetry consists of a data-logger and cell phone, radio, or internet connection to home PC for downloading data.
• Intermediate telemetry consists of a data-logger and cell phone or internet connection to automatically submit data to Ecology on a regular basis to the water users account.
• Advanced telemetry includes the above plus automated control of headgate via cell phone, radio, or internet.

New cost-share criteria below are for the meter for pressurized and open channel systems.  The higher costs would mostly be for open channel systems where a new open channel meter needs to be designed and installed to provide the best control of the diversion along with a SCADA system.  The goal is to encourage the installation of an integrated system that includes a meter, SCADA, an automated headgate to control the rate of diversion in real-time based on the measurement at the meter, and downloading information to a home PC or automatically submitting data to Ecology via the Internet.  Encouraging and enhancing the use of fully-automated systems enables better control of data quality. (updated 5/10/2007):

Review of cost-share amounts and cost-share agreements

Ecology or the Conservation District will review applications for completeness and eligibility.  After reviewing an application, determining eligibility, and calculating the cost-share, the Conservation district or Ecology will:

1. Notify the applicant of the amount of cost-share the applicant has been awarded.
2. Prepare a Metering Cost Share Agreement for signature by the applicant and the Conservation district or Ecology. A copy of the signed agreement along with a billing invoice to complete and instructions will be sent to the applicant. The agreement will be a cost reimbursement agreement.
3. To receive reimbursement after the meter or measuring device is installed, the water user will submit the completed billing invoice along with copies of original invoices and receipts and the certificate of installation signed by the installer
4. If possible, the latitude and longitude coordinates of the point of diversion and location of the metering device is the preferred method of locating the diversion and metering device. If coordinates for latitude and longitude are not provided, the applicant must provide access to Ecology or the Conservation district for determining latitude and longitude. Other agencies such as the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife may be able to provide assistance in determining latitude and longitude.
5. The invoice for payment will be made within 30 days of receipt of all final documents.

Contacts

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