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.
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 planprepared 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:
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.
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).
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)
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)
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.