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Ecology home | Water supply | Streamflow restoration | WRIA 14 Kennedy-Goldsborough Watershed Restoration and Enhancement Committee

Last revised: April 10, 2019

The Streamflow Restoration Act (RCW 90.94) is a new law affecting water resource management in Washington State. The law, passed in 2018, helps protect water resources while providing water for families in rural Washington. 

• Read more about the Streamflow Restoration law

The law directs local planning groups in 15 watersheds to develop or update plans that offset potential impacts to instream flows associated with new permit-exempt domestic water use.

We are leading the WRIA 14 Kennedy/Goldsborough Watershed Restoration and Enhancement Committee. Get more information:

• If you would like to receive notices about WRIA 14 Kennedy/Goldsborough Watershed Restoration and Enhancement Committee meetings, subscribe to the email list.

How the law affects this watershed

As of Jan. 19. 2018, new permit-exempt wells for domestic use in this watershed are:

• allowed 950 gallons per day as the maximum annual average (350 gallons per day during drought).
• subject to a $500 fee.

Please contact your county for more information on these standards as they may change in the final watershed plan or any potential rulemaking.

This watershed:

• has an instream flow rule that does not regulate permit-exempt wells.
• is directed by Section 203 of the new law to adopt a watershed restoration and enhancement plan by June 30, 2021.

 Meetings

This committee has until June 30, 2021 to complete plans that estimate the 20 year consumptive use from permit-exempt wells and identifies projects to offset that consumptive use. The plans will need to meet net ecological benefit.

The standing meeting date will be the 2^nd Thursday of every month, from around 9:00 am – 12:30 pm at Mason County Public Works – 100 W. Public Works Dr. Shelton, WA 98506, unless otherwise indicated. Future meeting dates will be:

• January 10, 2019
• February 14, 2019
• March 14, 2019
• April 11, 2019
• May 9, 2019
• June 13, 2019

2019

April 11, 9 a.m. to 12:30 pm at Mason County Public Works, 100 W Public Works Drive, Shelton, WA 98584

• Agenda
• Meeting materials:
• • Local planning presentation outline
  • Technical workgroup draft meeting summary
  • Proposed meeting schedule
  • Thurston County planning presentation
  • Mason County planning presentation

March 14, 9 am to 12:30 pm at Mason County Public Works, 100 W Public Works Drive, Shelton, WA 98584

• Agenda
• Draft meeting summary
• Meeting materials:
  • Approved operating principles
  • Instream Flow Video
  • Instream Flow Presentation
  • Data needs discussion

Feburary 14, Meeting canceled

• Meeting materials
  • Revised Operating Principles (mark-up)
  • Revised Operating Principles (clean)
  • Instream Flow Video
  • Instream Flow Presentation

January 10, 9 am to 12:30 pm at the Shelton Civic Center, 525 W. Cota St., Shelton, WA 98584

• Agenda
• Meeting summary
• Meeting materials:
  • Draft timeline and key components
  • Plan components and timeline - presentation
  • Hydrogeology presentation
  • Draft operating principles –revised

2018

December 6

• Agenda
• Meeting summary
• Meeting materials:
  • Draft operating principals

October 31

• Agenda
• Meeting summary
• Meeting materials:
  • ESSB 6091 - Map
  • Focus on: New streamflow restoration law
  • WRIA 14 Kennedy-Goldsborough - Basin map
  • Presentation - RCW 90.94 Streamflow Restoration

Streamflow restoration implementation grants

We have launched a grant program for Streamflow Restoration implementation projects. The first round of grants will focus on projects that improve streamflows and instream resources.

• Read more

Committee specific resource materials:USGS: Streamflow Depletion by Wells

• Eventual and Cumulative Domestic Use Water Model for Central Mason County
• USGS Groundwater and Surface Water Data Collection Report for Mason County

General information:

• Department of Ecology Streamflow Restoration Webpage
• Hirst v. Whatcom County
• Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 6091
• RCW 90.94
• Streamflow Restoration Grants Fiscal Year 2019 Interim Funding Guidance
• Case law
• Initial policy interpretation
• Recommendations for water use estimates

Contact:

Angela Johnson
Streamflow Restoration
angela.johnson@ecy.wa.gov
360 407-6668