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Ecology home | Water Resources Advisory Committeee | WRAC meetings

 Last revised:Feb. 19, 2019

The Water Resources Advisory Committee (WRAC) is a forum for issues related to water resources management in Washington state.

This membership represens state agencies, local governments, water utilities, tribes, environmental groups, consultants, law firms, and other water stakeholders. Typical discussion topics include rules, policies, legislation, budget development, and litigation. The group was established in 1996.

Meetings

Unless notice is provided otherwise, WRAC meetings are held from 9 a.m. to noon on the second Monday of every month at our headquarters building in Lacey. Anyone who is interested in water resources management in Washington is welcome to attend.

Join the email list

If you would like to receive notices about WRAC meetings, subscribe to the email list.

2019

Bill Tracking

• 2019 Legislative Bill Tracking - updated weekly during session
• Agency-request legislation - link to agency tracking page

February 11- Meeting Canceled - see email sent to WRAC ListServ

• Agenda - removed, meeting canceled
• We are proposing draft changes to two policies. The goal of the revisions is to clarify how the program treats permits that have been put to full beneficial use, but not yet certified, and to update the policies to reflect current law. The current version of each policy is available in the links below along with the revised versions for comparison. Please note:
  • We have almost completely rewritten POL 1060; therefore, specific changes are not highlighted.
  • We added specific language to POL 1200, which is indicated in blue text. We did not change the remainder of the policy.
    • POL 1060 Recision and Relinquishment
      • Revised version - draft for review and comment
    • POL 1200 Policy for the Evaluation of Changes or Transfers to Water Rights
      • Revised version - draft for review and comment

  • We would like your feedback on the proposed changes. Please send comments to Carrie Sessions by Mar. 29: (carrie.sessions@ecy.wa.gov, 360 407 6094).

• Streamflow Restoration Planning - page to track the committees, plans and rule process
• Drought Preparedness bill
  • HB 1622
  • SB 5675

January 14

• Agenda
• Streamflow Restoration Planning - new page to track the committees, plans and rule process
• Water Resource Mitigation, Joint Legislative Task Force
• Washington SNOTEL Current Snow Water Equivalent (SWE) % of Normal
• Presentations:
  • Potential Acquavella closeout timelines
  • Streamflow Restoration - Implemetation Update

2018

December 10

• Agenda
• Presentations:
  • Water Supply Update - Jeff Marti
  • Sreamflow Restoration - Implemetation update - Bennett Weinstein
• Streamflow Restoration under Chapter 90.94 RCW Progress on Implementation - Focus sheet
• Streamflow Restoration Planning - new page to track the committees
• Agency-request legislation

November 13

• Agenda
• State Water Plans Monographs from 17 States - Created by: AWRA Policy Technical Committee 

October 8

• Agenda
• Streamflow Restoration - Update
• Office of Columbia River - DRAFT Focus on: Water Supp;y Development Funding 
• Dam Safety - A tale of two dams  Joe Witzcak Ecology WRP-DSO
• We have launched a grant program for Streamflow Restoration implementation projects. This first round of grants will focus on projects that improve streamflows and instream resources. Applications will be accepted until 5 p.m. Oct. 31, 2018
• Ecology has developed preliminary draft rule language for Chapter 173-566 WAC – Streamflow Restoration Funding.  To gather input from interested parties and the public, we have posted the preliminary draft rule language on our website. The preliminary draft rule language will be discussed at the upcoming public workshops we are holding around the state in October. The comment period for the preliminary draft rule language will close on Oct. 28, 2018.
• You can comment three ways:
  • Online via eComments
  • Email comments to: inman@ecy.wa.gov, or
  • Mail comments to:
    • Rebecca Inman
    • Dept. of Ecology
    • PO Box 47600
    • Olympia WA  98504-7600
  • If you have any questions, please contact Rebecca Inman at (360) 407-6450 or rebecca.inman@ecy.wa.gov.
• The Water Resources Program is pursuing approval for request legislation on drought and on well construction and licensing. These proposals are still draft versions and are pending approval from the Governor’s Office.
• Drought:
  • Drought Preparedness and Response – DRAFT focus sheet
  • Z-draft
  • Fiscal note

• Well construction and licensing:
  • Well Construction and Licensing – DRAFT focus sheet
  • Z-draft
  • Fiscal note

September 10 - meeting canceled. Next meeting is scheduled for October 8.

• Statewide conditions - updated weekly

August 13 - Meeting canceled

• Rulemaking - Chapter 173-566 WAC Streamflow Restoration Funding
• Water Supply Availability Committee (WSAC) - Aug. 10 meeting
• Statewide conditions - updated weekly
• Streamflow Restoration - updated with interim guidance documents:
  • Streamflow Restoration Grants Fiscal Year 2019 Interim Funding Guidance
  • Interim Guidance for Determining Net Ecological Benefit

July 9

• Agenda  - New phone number 1-855-929-3239  Access Code 800 292 379 #
• Statewide conditions - updated June 14
• Water supply presentation - Jeff Marti, WRP-HQ
• Water Resources Mitigation, Joint Legislative Task Force
• Water supply monitoring
  • Ecology River and stream flow monitoring
  • U.S. Geological Survey: Look at daily streamflow data for Washington state
  • Northwest River Forecast Center: View river volume forecasts for the coming year
• Washington Groundwater Level Status and Trends - Spring 2016
• Streamflow Restoration - updated with interim guidance documents:
  • Streamflow Restoration Grants Fiscal Year 2019 Interim Funding Guidance
  • Interim Guidance for Determining Net Ecological Benefit

 June 11 - meeting canceled

• Zosel dam - June 1 update
• Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) - for the Icicle Creek Water Resource Management Strategy

May 14 

• Agenda - New phone number 1-855-929-3239  Access Code 805 003 431 #
• Water Resources Mitigation, Joint Legislative Task Force
• Focus on: New streamflow restoration law
• 2017 Implementation Status Report for the Yakima River Basin Integrated Water Resource Management Plan

April 9

• Agenda
• Rattlesnake Ridge LandslideUnion Gap Irrigation District Response - Trevor Hutton WRP-CRO
• Washington State Drought Contingency Plan Update - Jeff Marti WRP-HQ
• Yakima Basin Water Supply - April Forecast
• Streamflow Restoration - includes link to new interactive map and WRIA documents
  • Read our policy interpretation
  • Recommendations for water use estimates

March 12

• Agenda

• Full water supply expected according to first Bureau of Reclamation forecast

• Streamflow Restoration - includes link to new interactive map and WRIA documents
  • Read our policy interpretation
  • Recommendations for water use estimates

February 12

• Agenda
• Statewide conditions - January 2018 update
• Streamflow Restoration
  • Watershed plan archive
  • Map of where the new law applies
  • HB 6091 Ensuring that water is available to support development - Leglsative web page link
  • Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 6091 - direct link to the bill

January 8

• Agenda
• Landowners fined for illegally pumping 500 million gallons from Odessa aquifer
• Chapter 173-166 WAC Emergency Drought Relief - track the progress of this rule amendment
• Water supply update - Jeff Marti WRP-HQ
• HB 6091 Ensuring that water is available to support development - Leglsative web page link

2017 meetings

December 18

• Agenda
• See our new web pages - give us your feedback

November 20

• Agenda
  
  • WRP Strategic Plan for 2016-2020 - January 2016
  • WRP Fiscal Year 2018 Program Plan
• Ecology v. Acquavella et al adjudication:
• Water Supply Update - Jeff Marti WRP-HQ

October 16 - This is a Call-in meeting  Phone 360-407-3780 PIN 602714 #

• Agenda
• Water today – water for the next hundred years - ECOconnect blog, Octt. 3

September 18  - meeting canceled

August 28

• Agenda
• Chapter 173-166 WAC Emergency Drought Relief - track the progress of this rule amendment
• Yakima River Surface Water Adjudication (Acquavella) - Presentation
• We are proposing changes to POL-1210 and PRO-1210, the policy and procedure governing Annual Consumptive Quantity.
  • Overview of proposed changes
  • Proposed policy - POL-1210
  • Proposed procedure - PRO-1210
    • Existing policy - POL-1210
    • Existing procedure  PRO-1210  

Meeting dates

• 8/13/2018 Mon - meeting canceled
• 9/10/2018 Mon
• 10/8/2018 Mon
• 11/13/2018 Tue (Monday is a holiday)
• 12/10/2018 Mon

Resource materials

Bill Tracking

• 2018 Legislative session bill tracking spreadsheet - Final version after Sine Die

Program highlights

• 100 Years of water law - a multi-media review of the many ways Washington’s water law shapes our lives.

Cases

• Loyal Pig
• Hirst v. Whatcom County
• Foster v. Ecology
• Instream Flows for the Spokane River
• Culverts Case - link to Supreme Court of the United States for Case No. 17-269 Washington, Petitioner v. United States, et al.
• Bassett, et. al. vs. Ecology and Center for Environmental Policy - No. 14-2-02466-2
  • Order - September 6, 2017 case is transferred to Division II of the Court of Appeals
  • Plaintiff Response Brief - October 13, 2016
    • Appendices 8 through 13 - includes: Slip Opinion, Whatcom County v. Hirst, Supreme Court Case No. 91475-3 (October 6, 2016), October 11, 2016 letter from Patrick and Virginia Cates, Declaration of Judy Dtirton,. Declaration of Greg McCarry, Declaration of Magdalena Bassett, Skagit County Assessor – Well Restriction Assessment Devaluation Report, Copies of Miriam-Webster definitions of “allocate” and “appropriate.”
  • Ecology's Response Brief - September 9, 2016
  • Center for Environmental Law and Policy's Response to Plaintiffs' Opening Brief - September 9, 2016
  • Declaration of Dan J. Von Seggern in support of CELP Response to Plaintiffs' Opening Brief - September 9, 2016
  • Plaintiffs' Opening Brief - July 29, 2016 (Hearing date October 21, 2016)
  • Order Denying Petitioners’ Motion for Summary Judgment - Signed by Judge Tabor on Friday, January, 22, 2016
  • Plaintiffs' Reply to Ecology and CELP's Responses to Motion for Summary Judgment - January 11, 2016
  • Center for Environmental Law and Policy's Motion to Strike Improper Argument from Plaintiffs' Motion for Summary Judgment - 12/28/2015
  • Center for Environmental Law and Policy's Response to Plaintiffs' Motion for Summary Judgment - 12/28/2015
  • Ecology Response in Opposition to Petitioners' Motion for Summary Judgment on Legal Issues - 12/24/2015
  • Plaintiffs' Motion for Summary Judgment on Legal Issues - 11/17/2015
  • Petition for Declaratory Judgment Regarding the Validity of a Rule - 12/31/2014

Program contacts:

Chris Anderson
Water Resources Program webmaster
chris.anderson@ecy.wa.gov
(360) 407-6634 

Carrie Sessions
Water Resources Program legislative liaison
carrie.sessions@ecy.wa.gov
360-407-6094

Jim Skalski
Water Resources Program budget manager
jim.skalski@ecy.wa.gov
360-407-6617