PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
Subject of Possible Rule Making: This rule making will propose a new rule, chapter 173-546 WAC, for management of the waters in the Entiat River Basin (WRIA 46). The rule will, at a minimum, adopt instream flows, make a determination regarding water availability in the basin, and reserve water for future out-of-stream uses meeting certain criteria.
Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: Chapters 43.27A, 90.54, and 90.82 RCW.
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The rule will establish a water resource management program for the Entiat River watershed (WRIA 46). The rule will govern water allocation, instream resources protection, and management of the waters in the watershed.
Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: This rule is being developed in coordination with the recommendations of the Entiat WRI Planning Unit (EWPU). The EWPU is comprised of two environmental organizations (Audubon and NW Ecosystem Alliance), the Yakama Nation, several federal agencies (e.g., the Natural Resources Conservation Service and U.S. Forest Service), the City of Entiat, Entiat Irrigation District, Chelan County, several local business interests (Longview Fiber, local partnership ditch companies), landowners, and other interested parties in the watershed. Implementation and monitoring of the rule will be done by the Department of Ecology and partners through the EWPU, to assess how closely water use and instream resource protection and restoration actions track the forecasts of the EWPU, so the program can be adjusted if necessary to accomplish its goals.
Process for Developing New Rule: The process authorized by, and described in, chapter 90.82 RCW, Watershed planning.
Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Sarah Walker, Chelan County Conservation District, EWPU Cocoordinator, (509) 664-0271, sarah-walker@wa.nacdnet.org; John Monohan, CRO, 15 West Yakima Avenue, Suite 200, Yakima, WA 98902, (509) 457-7112, jmon461@ecy.wa.gov; or Thom Lufkin, Ecology Headquarters, P.O. Box 47600, Olympia, WA 98504-7600, (360) 407-6631, tlhw461@ecy.wa.gov.
August 13, 2004
Joe Stohr
Water Resources
Program Manager