PORT TOWNSEND — The public can provide written comment through July 10 on a proposed rule for water use in Quilcene-Snow watershed.
To review the proposed rule, which the state filed last week, and for information explaining Ecology’s rule process, click on the department’s Quilcene-Snow Web site — www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wr/instream-flows/quilsnowbasin.html.
The public also is invited to ask questions and submit comments during a hearing at The Commons in Fort Worden State Park on June 25.
A presentation begins at 6:30 p.m., followed by a hearing at 7:30 p.m.
Major elements of the proposed rule include:
• Setting instream flow levels on 13 streams in 11 sub-basins to protect aquatic resources, including habitat for threatened and endangered salmon and steelhead.
• Closing all streams to future surface water and groundwater withdrawals that would diminish flows.
Exceptions are made for seasonal water use from Chimacum Creek and the Big Quilcene River and the creation of reserves.
• Establishing a conservation standard for new permit-exempt well use to benefit in-stream resources and to better manage limited supply (500 gallons per-day maximum not to exceed an annual average of 350 gallons per day).
• Establishing reserves of water for future use and specifying the conditions required to access them.
• Establishing “coastal management areas” to protect small coastal drainages and requiring use of the conservation standard for new wells in these areas.
• Allowing the collection and use of rooftop rainwater, provided all water is used on site.
Written comments on the proposal are due by 5 p.m. July 10. They should be sent to:
Ann Wessel, Department of Ecology Water Resources Program, P.O. Box 47600, Olympia, WA 98504-7600, or e-mail awes461@ecy.wa.gov.
Comments can also be entered online at the Quilcene-Snow Web site.
Ecology will evaluate all comments received by the July 10 deadline for possible changes to the proposed rule. The earliest Ecology can adopt the rule is Aug. 28.
The rule takes effect 30 days after it is adopted.
