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Ecology home | Water supply | Streamflow restoration | WRIA 15 Kitsap Watershed Restoration and Enhancement Committee

Last revised: April 8, 2022

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.

• If you would like to receive notices about Watershed Restoration and Enhancement planning, 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.

The Department of Ecology offers free language services. We can provide information written in your preferred language and interpreters over the phone. For more information, please contact Stacy Vynne McKinstry at 425 649-7114. 

WRE Planning Update

Despite hard work and commitment, the WRIA 15 Watershed Restoration and Enhancement Committee did not locally approve their watershed plan and submit to Ecology for review before the June 30, 2021 adoption deadline. See the April 2021 meeting summary for more information. The streamflow restoration law required the Committee’s watershed plan to be locally approved and adopted by Ecology by June 30, 2021 or an alternative pathway for plan adoption is initiated.

Starting in July 2021, the Department of Ecology began to prepare a plan as directed by RCW 90.94.030(3)(h) for future adoption. As of March 1, 2022 the Salmon Recovery Funding Board is undertaking its review of the final draft plan prepared by Ecology. There is not a role for the WRIA 15 Committee in this process so the Committee does not have additional meetings scheduled. For more details on plan finalization, please see our streamflow restoration planning update or subscribe to the email list.

Committee Draft WRE Plan for Local Review

The chair distributed the draft watershed restoration and enhancement plan for review by entities on the Committee in January 2021. The Committee’s final vote took place in April 2021 however the Committee did not locally approve their plan. As Ecology develops the final draft plans, it will follow, as the committees did, the law, POL 2094 and the NEB guidance. Ecology will also consider all available information, including draft materials developed by the committees.

The Committee draft plan, appendices, and supporting resources are linked here:

Committee Draft WRE Plan - March Review

• REVISED WRIA 15 FINAL DRAFT PLAN VERSION MARCH 1, 2021
• WRIA 15 Plan
• WRIA 15 Review Memo
• WRIA 15 Plan Template Presentation
• Intro Language Compendium
• Committee Brochure
• Final NEB Guidance
• Streamflow Interpretative Statement

Committee Draft WRE Plan - December Review

The chair distributed the draft watershed restoration and enhancement plan for review by entities on the Committee in December 2020. 

• Full Draft Plan - Clean
• Comment Tracker
• Comment Tracker Instructions
• Compendium
• Full Draft Plan - TrackChanges

Meetings

This committee had until June 2021 to complete plans that estimate the 20 year consumptive use from new permit-exempt wells and identify projects to offset that consumptive use. The committee does not have additional meetings scheduled.

2021

April 26--W RIA 15 Committee Meeting-- 1pm to 3pm Webex and Agenda Coming Soon. Anticipated Decision on Final Draft Plan.

• Agenda
• Meeting Summary
• Revised Final Draft WRIA 15 Plan
• Plan Adoption Pathways
• Plan Corrections
• WebEx Recording of April 26, 2021 WRIA 15 WREC Final Vote Meeting

April 1--Project Workgroup Meeting

• Workgroup Meeting Notes

January 25– WRIA 15 Special Meeting  10am (please contact Stacy Vynne for details)

• Agenda
• Meeting Summary
• Meeting Materials:
  • WRIA 15 Revised Plan

January 19 – Special Meeting—  9:30am to 2:00pm WebEx Only.

• Agenda
• Revised Draft Plan
• Comment Tracker
• Meeting Summary

January 7 – Committee Meeting—  9:30am to 2:00pm WebEx Only.

• Agenda
• Meeting Summary

2020

December 3 – Committee Meeting—  9:30am to 1:00pm WebEx Only.We are holding this meeting via WebEx only. A WebEx link is included in the agenda (Meeting Packet).

• Meeting Packet
• Meeting Summary

November 5 – Committee Meeting—  9:30am to 2:30pm (Anticipated) WebEx Only.

• Revised Meeting Packet
• Meeting Summary

October 29 – "Special" Committee Meeting—  9:30am to 12:30pm WebEx Only

• Meeting Packet
• Meeting Summary

October 20— Project Workgroup Meeting— 10:00am to 12:00pm WebEx (Contact Stacy for more information)

• Meeting Packet

October 1 – Committee Meeting—  9:30am to 3:00pm WebEx Only

• Meeting Packet
• Final Meeting Summary

September 28—Open House— 12:30pm to 4:30pm WebEx

September 28— Project Workgroup Meeting— 10:00am to 12:00pm WebEx (Contact Stacy for more information)

• Agenda
• Draft Meeting Summary

September 22— Project Workgroup Meeting— 10:00am to 12:00pm WebEx (Contact Stacy for more information)

• Agenda
• Draft Meeting Summary

September 3 – Committee Meeting—  9:30am to 1:30pm WebEx Only

• Meeting Packet
• Meeting Summary

August 10 — Project Workgroup Meeting— 12pm WebEx (Contact Stacy for more information)

• Agenda
• Meeting Packet
• Meeting Summary

August 6 – Committee Meeting—  9:30am to 1:30pm WebEx Only

• Meeting Packet
• Meeting Summary
• Meeting Materials:
  • Committee Operating Principles

August 5 — Beaver Workgroup Meeting WebEx— (Contact Stacy for more information)

• Beaver Task Force Notes

July 14 – Committee Meeting—  10:00am to 12:30pm WebEx Only–

• Meeting Packet
• Meeting Summary

July 13— Project Workgroup Meeting— 12pm WebEx (Contact Stacy for more information)

• Agenda
• Meeting Summary

June 29— Project Workgroup Meeting— 12pm WebEx (Contact Stacy for more information)

• Meeting Summary

June 4 – Committee Meeting— 9:30am to 1:30pm WebEx Only–

• Meeting Packet
• Meeting Summary

May 21 — Project Workgroup Meeting— 1/2 Day, contact Stacy for more information

• Agenda
• Draft Meeting Summary

May 7 —Committee Meeting— 9:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., WebEx Only – see Agenda for information

• Meeting Packet
• Meeting Summary

April 27 —Policy and Adaptive Management Workgroup — (contact Stacy for more information)

• Meeting Summary

April 22 —Special meeting of Committee Subgroup to discuss consumptive use — 10:00 a.m. (contact Stacy for more information)

• Meeting Summary

April 2 —Committee Meeting— 9:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., WebEx Only – see meeting packet for details

• Meeting Packet
• Final Meeting Summary

Please contact Stacy for details on meeting location and call in information.

March 19 — Project Workgroup Meeting— 9:15 a.m. - 12:00 p.m., Bremerton Public Works (contact Stacy for more details)

• Meeting Summary

March 5 —Committee Meeting— 9:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Kitsap County Comissioner's Chambers, Port Orchard  

• Agenda
• Final Meeting Summary
• Meeting Materials:
• Tech Progress Update
• Eventual and Cumulative Paper (*Note: This paper was developed by an external partner and may not meet accessibility requirements)
• Plan Development Procedures Memo

February 6 —Committee Meeting — 9:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Kitsap County Comissioner's Chambers, Port Orchard  

• Meeting Summary
• Meeting Materials

January 14 — Project Workgroup and Technical Workgroup — 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m., Bremerton Public Works (contact Stacy for more information)

• Meeting Summary

2019

December 5 — 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., Kitsap County Comissioner's Chambers, Port Orchard

• Meeting Summary
• Meeting Materials

November 18 — Project Workgroup and Technical Workgroup (contact Stacy for more information)

• Project Workgroup Meeting Summary
• Technical Workgroup Meeting Summary

November 7 — 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., Kitsap County Comissioner's Chambers, Port Orchard 

• Meeting Summary
• Meeting Packet

October 30 — Project Workgroup and Technical Workgroup (contact Stacy for more information)

• Project Workgroup Meeting Summary
• Technical Workgroup Meeting Summary 

October 03 — 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Kitsap County Commissioner’s Chambers, Port Orchard

• Agenda
• Meeting Summary
• Meeting Packet

September 26 —Technical Workgroup (Contact Stacy for more information)

• Workgroup Notes

September 11 —Technical Workgroup (Contact Stacy for more information)

• Workgroup Notes

September 05 —9:30am-12:30 pm, Kitsap County Commissioner’s Chambers, Port Orchard

• Agenda
• Meeting Summary
• Meeting Materials:
  • NEB Overview and Plan Components presentation
  • Growth Projections presentation
  • Kitsap County 1^st Draft Heatmap

August 21 —Technical Workgroup

• Workgroup Notes

August 01 — 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Kitsap Conservation District, 10332 Central Valley Rd Poulsbo

• Agenda
• Meeting Summary
• Meeting Materials:
  • WRIA committee calendar updated

July 22 —

• Technical workgroup meeting summary
• Project workgroup meeting summary

July 09 — Project workgroup meeting summary

June 06 — 9:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. Eagles Nest Community Center, 1195 NW Fairgrounds Road, Bremerton, WA

• Agenda
• Meeting Summary
• Meeting Materials:
• Acquistions Intro presentation
• WREC Decisions Points Presentation
• WRIA 15 Region Proposal

June 04 — Workgroup Meeting.

• Workgroup Notes

May 13 — Committee Webinar

• Webinar Presentation

May 09 — Workgroup Meeting

• Workgroup meeting summary

May 2—9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Eagles Nest Community Center, 1195 NW Fairgrounds Road, Bremerton, WA
Regular meeting—9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Workgroup meeting—12:45 to 3 p.m. (contact Stacy Vynne McKinstry for more information)

• Agenda
• Final meeting summary
• Workgroup meeting summary
• Meeting materials:
  • Basin delineation with Streams
  • South Sound Squaxins subbasins proposed
  • Combined HUC12 subbasins
  • Discussion guide population growth
  • Discussion guide subbasins
  • Kpud subbasins
  • Watersheds with new well potential
  • Methods for Growth Projections

April 17—1 to 2 p.m. Workgroup meeting (contact Stacy Vynne McKinstry for more information)

• Workgroup meeting summary

Apr 4—9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.  Kitsap Conference Center, 100 Washington Avenue, Bremerton
Regular meeting—9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Workgroup meeting—1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. (contact Stacy Vynne McKinstry for more information)

• Agenda
• Final Meeting Summary
• Workgroup meeting summary
• Meeting materials:
  • April Mtg Overview Presentation
  • King County Water Availability Report Presentation
  • USGS Groundwater Model Kitsap Presentation
  • Ex Officio Proposal Washington Water Service
  • Ex Officio Proposal Mason Kitsap Farm Bureau

March 4—Workgroup meeting

• Workgroup meeting summary

March 7—9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Eagles Nest Community Center, 1195 NW Fairgrounds Road, Bremerton, WA

• Agenda
• Meeting Summary
• Meeting materials:
  • King County Comprehensive Plan Overview
  • King County Land Use Planning on Vashon Island
  • Mason County Paper on Domestic Use Water Model for WRIA 14
  • Kitsap County Water as a Resource Policy and Classification of Zones
  • Map of Wells Drilled by KPUD
  • Updated Committee Calendar
  • Overview Presentation for Meeting
  • Kitsap County Planning Overview
  • Pierce County Planning Overview
  • Bainbridge Island Planning Overview

March 4—10 a.m. WORKGROUP MEETING (contact Stacy Vynne McKinstry for more information)

• Workgroup meeting summary

February 7—9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Eagles Nest Community Center, 1195 NW Fairgrounds Road, Bremerton, WA

• Agenda
• Meeting Summary
• Meeting materials:
  • Operating Principles 02/1/2019
  • Intro to Hydrogeology
  • Intro to Subbasins

January 14

• Agenda
• Meeting summary
• Meeting materials:
  • Plan Components and Proposed Timeline
  • Committee Calendar
  • Instream Flows 101 Presentation
  • Draft Operating Principles

2018

December 18

• Agenda
• Meeting summary
• Meeting materials:
  • Draft operating principles
  • Draft operating principles and Charter - presentation
  • Geography overview and committee needs - presentation

October 23

• Agenda
• Meeting summary
• Meeting materials:
  • ESSB 6091 - Map
  • Focus on: New streamflow restoration law
  • WRIA 15 Kitsap Peninsula - 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 resources

• Revised and Approved WRIA 15 Operating Principles (8/6/2020)
• Final Approved Operating Principles
• Instream Flow Report
• USGS Kitsap Ground Water Model
• Committee Membership
• WRIA 15 Webpage
• Committee Brochure

Resource materials:

• Department of Ecology Streamflow Restoration Webpage
• Hirst v. Whatcom County
• Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 6091
• RCW 90.94
• Case law
• Final Net Ecological Benefit Guidance
• Streamflow Restoration Policy and Interpretative Statement

 

Contact:

Stacy Vynne McKinstry
Streamflow Restoration
stacy.vynnemckinstry@ecy.wa.gov
425 649-7114