PDFWAC 173-528-060

Establishment of instream flows.

(1) The instream flows established in this chapter are based on the recommendations of the planning unit; consultation with the department of fish and wildlife, department of agriculture, and department of community, trade, and economic development; and public input received during the rule-making process. The planning unit recommended these instream flow levels by unanimous vote.
(2) Instream flows established in this chapter are water rights, which protect instream values and functions from future appropriations. The priority date of the instream flows is the effective date of this chapter. In accordance with RCW 90.82.080, this priority date received unanimous approval from the planning unit.
(3) Instream flow rights shall 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 the instream flows:
(a) A water right put to beneficial use before the effective date of this chapter, unless stated in the conditions of the water right or change authorization.
(b) Water rights appropriated from the reservation of water established in WAC 173-528-110.
(c) Water rights for environmental restoration purposes under WAC 173-528-140, unless included as a permit condition.
(4) Instream flows, expressed in cubic feet per second (cfs), are measured at the stream management control points in WAC 173-528-050. Instream flows apply to all stream reaches that contribute to flow at stream management control points, as shown in Table II of this section. For reaches that are downstream of all management points, the flows established for the nearest upstream management control point shall apply to those reaches. However, if a point of withdrawal is downstream of the confluence of two or more branches, each having a designated management point, the combined flows of the management points shall apply to that withdrawal.
Table II
Instream Flows in the Salmon/Washougal Basin (cubic feet per second)
Month
Stream Management Control Point
 
Whipple Creek, RM 2.7
Mill Creek, RM 0.02
Weaver Creek, RM 0.04
Morgan Creek, RM 1.8
Rock Creek, RM 0.3
Burnt Bridge Creek, RM 3.0
Lower Lacamas Creek, RM 0.4
January
28
 
27
 
12
 
17
 
36
 
20
 
112
 
February
51
 
50
 
23
 
33
 
63
 
38
 
112
 
March
51
 
50
 
23
 
33
 
63
 
38
 
96
 
April
51
 
50
 
23
 
33
 
63
 
38
 
96
 
May
51
 
50
 
23
 
33
 
63
 
38
 
96
 
June
34
 
33
 
15
 
22
 
42
 
25
 
64
 
July
34
 
33
 
15
 
22
 
42
 
25
 
64
 
August
12
 
11
 
4
 
7
 
15
 
8
 
27
 
September
12
 
11
 
4
 
7
 
15
 
8
 
112
 
October
28
 
27
 
12
 
17
 
36
 
20
 
112
 
November
28
 
27
 
12
 
17
 
36
 
20
 
112
 
December
28
 
27
 
12
 
17
 
36
 
20
 
112
 
Month
Stream Management Control Point
 
Upper Lacamas Creek, RM 5.5
Washougal River, RM 3.6
Little Washougal River, RM 0.02
W.F. Washougal River, RM 0.8
Gibbons Creek, RM 1.6
Lawton Creek, RM 0.45
Duncan Creek, RM 0.3
January
39
 
425
193
 
205
 
27
 
24
 
21
 
February
39
 
425
193
 
205
 
49
 
44
 
39
 
March
39
 
375
160
 
169
 
49
 
44
 
39
 
April
39
 
375
160
 
169
 
49
 
44
 
39
 
May
39
 
375
160
 
169
 
49
 
44
 
39
 
June
39
 
525
107
 
112
 
33
 
29
 
26
 
July
39
 
240
107
 
112
 
33
 
29
 
26
 
August
39
 
168
48
 
51
 
11
 
10
 
8
 
September
39
 
264/425*
193
 
205
 
11
 
10
 
8
 
October
39
 
425
193
 
205
 
27
 
24
 
21
 
November
39
 
425
193
 
205
 
27
 
24
 
21
 
December
39
 
425
193
 
205
 
27
 
24
 
21
 
*The Washougal River, RM 3.6, instream flow right is for 264 cubic feet per second from September 1 to September 15, and 425 cubic feet per second from September 16 to September 30.
Month
Stream Management Control Point
 
Woodward Creek, RM 0.25
Hardy Creek, RM 1.6
Hamilton Creek, RM 1.3
Greenleaf Creek, RM 0.3
January
42
 
40
 
72
 
31
 
February
72
 
69
 
117
 
55
 
March
72
 
69
 
117
 
55
 
April
72
 
69
 
117
 
55
 
May
72
 
69
 
117
 
55
 
June
48
 
46
 
78
 
37
 
July
48
 
46
 
78
 
37
 
August
18
 
17
 
33
 
13
 
September
18
 
17
 
33
 
13
 
October
42
 
40
 
72
 
31
 
November
42
 
40
 
72
 
31
 
December
42
 
40
 
72
 
31
 
[Statutory Authority: Chapters 90.82, 90.54, 90.22, 90.03, and 90.44 RCW. WSR 09-01-127 (Order 08-03), § 173-528-060, filed 12/19/08, effective 1/19/09.]