WRIA 62 WMP 032305 - Washington State Department of Ecology

March, 2005 -106- 023-1289-003.3040
WRIA 62 WMP 032305
TABLE 7-1
SEPA Analysis for Water Quantity Actions
QUANT-1: There is a need to characterize groundwater resources and hydraulic continuity
between groundwater and surface water at a local scale in areas where growth and water
supply are a potential concern.
Management Action SEPA Analysis
1. The Watershed Planning Implementing Body will explore the need to,
and, if necessary, write grants or hire a grant writer. The objective of
this action is to obtain funding to support technical studies to evaluate
water resources and hydraulic continuity between surface water and
groundwater at a local scale and in areas where growth and water
supply are a potential concern. These areas have been identified as
the Calispell, Davis, Skookum, Kent and McCloud sub-basins and the
mainstem of the Pend Oreille River from the Idaho state-line north to
Ione.
Funding, (Study)
QUANT-2a: To effectively address competing water needs now and in the future, instream
flow needs for the Pend Oreille River mainstem and the tributaries to the Pend Oreille River
and Priest River Basin in WRIA 62 should be more fully understood in areas where water
demand is expected to increase.
Management Action SEPA Analysis
1. The Watershed planning Implementing Body will evaluate the need to
conduct instream flow studies and where and how to conduct these
studies to address competing water needs in WRIA 62. Priority
locations for instream flow setting have been identified as the
Calispell, Davis, Skookum, Kent and McCloud sub-basins. The
Watershed Planning Unit acknowledges that instream flows may need
to be developed for major tributaries in WRIA 62.
2. The Watershed planning Implementing Body will develop a
presentation for County Commissioners and other interested
stakeholder groups.
3. The Watershed planning Implementing Body will support
establishment and continuation of stream flow monitoring to improve
understanding of flows within the tributaries to the Pend Oreille River
and the Priest River in WRIA 62 that are predicted to experience the
greatest water demand in the future. Available Phase IV funds may
be used to support this effort along with other funds and in-kind
services. The Kalispel Tribe has agreed to take on the responsibility
of maintaining and downloading dataloggers at the seven stream
gages that were installed in the Calispell, Davis, Skookum and Kent
sub-basins during the Phase II technical assessment.
Collaboration,
Study
Public Education
Study,
Collaboration