WRIA 62 WMP 032305 - Washington State Department of Ecology

March, 2005 -31- 023-1289-003.3040
WR 1-4 The Watershed Planning Unit recommends that the Legislature allow the unused
portions of irrigation water rights to be banked. This would be a conservation
incentive. This would involve a statute change in Chapter 90.14 RCW.
3.4.2 WR-2
Problem Statement: When future minimum instream flows are established, any new water rights
that are junior to the minimum instream flows may be restricted when minimum instream flows are
not met. There is a need to quantify water available for future allocation and/or reservation.
Goal: To provide certainty in supplying water for future growth via a water reservation for subbasins
with high projected population growth and available water.
Statute Justification: RCW 90.82.005; RCW 90.82.010; RCW 90.82.030(1); RCW 90.82.040
Notes: Findings-2003 1 st sp.s.c 4; RCW 90.82.040 Notes: Finding-Intent-2001 c 237; RCW
90.82.070(1)(g)&(2); RCW 90.82.120.
Management Action(s):
WR 2-1 Watershed Planning Implementing Body to explore the concept of a water
reservation (per Chapter 173-590 WAC) for future growth (including domestic
exempt well use, irrigation, industrial, commercial and municipal water use) in the
WRIA 62 sub-basins that are expected to experience the highest population growth
(i.e., the Calispell, Davis, Skookum, Kent and McCloud sub-basins) and where other
water resources may not be available (i.e. outside water purveyor service areas).
WR 2-2 The Watershed Planning Unit recommends that the Legislature provide for in-house
domestic and normal stock water withdrawal from domestic exempt wells
(withdrawal less than 5,000 gallons per day as defined in RCW 90.44.050) when
water use is restricted as a result of instream flow regulation.
Note: "In-house domestic use" means use of water for drinking, cleaning, sanitation, and other uses
in a residence, excluding irrigation of lawn and garden.
WRIA 62 WMP 032305