PDFWAC 173-517-090

Instream flows.

(1) Instream flows established in this chapter are flow levels which protect and preserve wildlife, fish, stock water, scenic, aesthetic, recreation, water quality and other environmental values, and navigational values.
(2) Instream flows established in this chapter are water rights, which protect instream values from future consumptive appropriations. The priority date of the instream flows is the effective date of this chapter.
(3) Instream flows will be protected from impairment by any new water rights commenced after the effective date of this chapter and by all future changes and transfers of senior and junior water rights, including both surface and groundwater rights. The following water rights are not subject to instream flows:
(a) Water rights existing before the effective date of this chapter as explained in WAC 173-517-020(4).
(b) Water rights appropriated from the reserves of water established in WAC 173-517-150.
(c) Future withdrawals for environmental restoration purposes under WAC 173-517-200, unless included as a permit condition.
(4) Instream flows are expressed in cubic feet per second (cfs), and measured at the control points identified in WAC 173-517-080.
(5) Instream flows are established in Tables 2 through 4 below, for the stream management units identified in WAC 173-517-080.
Table 2
Instream Flows (in cfs) for Big and Little Quilcene Rivers, with Ecology Gauge Number and River Mile (RM)
Month
Big Quilcene River Ecology Gauge #17A060 RM 0.4
Little Quilcene River Ecology Gauge #17D060 RM 0.8
January
120
 
61
 
February
120
 
61
 
March
190
 
100
 
April
190
 
100
 
May
190
 
92
 
June
190
 
66
 
July
190
 
66
 
August
167
 
27
 
September
94
 
30
 
October
180
 
48
 
November
120
 
61
 
December
120
 
61
 
Table 3
Instream Flows (in cfs) for Named Creeks with Ecology Stream Gauges
(including gauge number and River Mile (RM))
Month
Chimacum Creek Ecology Gauge #17B050
RM 0.3
Salmon Creek Ecology Gauge #17F060
RM 0.8
Snow Creek Ecology Gauge #17E060
RM 0.4
Tarboo Creek Ecology Gauge #17G060
RM 0.8
Thorndyke Creek Ecology Gauge #17H060
RM 1.2
January
25
 
21
 
35
 
20
 
24
 
February
25
 
21
 
35
 
20
 
24
 
March
46
 
40
 
50
 
25
 
45
 
April
46
 
35
 
50
 
16
 
45
 
May
32
 
26
 
50
 
8
 
30
 
June
10
 
26
 
35
 
8
 
30
 
July
10
 
9
 
17
 
8
 
12
 
August
10
 
9
 
15
 
8
 
12
 
September
17
 
9
 
20
 
8
 
12
 
October
20
 
12
 
35
 
8
 
12
 
November
25
 
21
 
35
 
20
 
24
 
December
25
 
21
 
35
 
20
 
24
 
Table 4
Instream Flows (in cfs) for Other Named Creeks (including River Mile (RM))
Month
Donovan Creek
RM 0.4
Howe Creek
RM 0.5
Leland Creek
RM 0.1
Ludlow Creek
RM 0.5
Piddling Creek
RM 0.2
Spencer Creek
RM 0.0
January
15.5
 
17.1
 
33.1
 
32.1
 
5.8
 
13.3
 
February
10.2
 
11.3
 
21.8
 
21.2
 
3.8
 
8.8
 
March
29.8
 
32.6
 
58.3
 
56.8
 
12.4
 
26.1
 
April
29.8
 
32.6
 
58.3
 
56.8
 
12.4
 
26.1
 
May
19.7
 
21.5
 
38.5
 
37.9
 
8.2
 
17.2
 
June
19.7
 
21.5
 
38.5
 
37.9
 
8.2
 
17.2
 
July
6.1
 
6.8
 
13.9
 
13.5
 
2.1
 
5.2
 
August
6.1
 
6.8
 
13.9
 
13.5
 
2.1
 
5.2
 
September
6.1
 
6.8
 
13.9
 
13.5
 
2.1
 
5.2
 
October
6.1
 
6.8
 
13.9
 
13.5
 
2.1
 
5.2
 
November
15.5
 
17.1
 
33.1
 
32.1
 
5.8
 
13.3
 
December
15.5
 
17.1
 
33.1
 
32.1
 
5.8
 
13.3
 
[Statutory Authority: Chapters 90.54, 90.22, 90.82, 90.03, and 90.44 RCW. WSR 09-24-080 (Order 04-02), § 173-517-090, filed 11/30/09, effective 12/31/09.]