Brief Description: Allowing WRIA 40 to be divided for the purposes of chapter 90.82 RCW.

Sponsors: Senators Parlette, Doumit, Mulliken, Hale and Deccio.

Hearing Date: 3/14/03

Staff: Kenneth Hirst (786-7105).

Background:

The Water Resources Act directs the Department of Ecology (DOE) to develop a comprehensive state water resources program for making decisions on future water resource allocation and use. The act permits the DOE to develop the program in segments. (RCW 90.54.040(1).) Under the act, the DOE has divided the state into 62 water resource inventory areas (WRIAs). (Chapter 173-500 WAC.) WRIA 40 is for the Alkali-Squilchuck area. The WRIA contains a number of creeks that empty into the Columbia River separately from the western side of the river in an area that stretches from just south of the City of Wenatchee in Chelan County, along the Columbia River border of Kittitas County, to Priest Rapids Dam in Yakima County. Two of the creeks, Squilchuck and Stemilt Creeks, join the Columbia River just downstream of the City of Wenatchee. Alkali Creek joins the Columbia across from the town of Mattawa.

State law provides a process for conducting watershed planning through a locally initiated process. If planning is conducted under this process, it must include a component on current and future water availability and use. (RCW 90.82.070.) It may include components regarding instream flows, water quality, and habitat. (RCW 90.82.080, .090, and .100.) Watershed planning may be conducted for one watershed or water resource inventory area (WRIA) or it may be conducted for multiple WRIAs. (RCW 90.82.040 and .060.)

Summary of Bill:

For the purposes of the state's locally initiated watershed planning laws, WRIA 40 is divided into the portion containing the Stemilt and Squilchuck basins (designated as WRIA 40a) and the remaining area (WRIA 40b). Watershed planning may be conducted separately for these two areas, with each eligible to receive one half of the planning grant monies available to a single WRIA under these laws.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not Requested.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.