HomeMy WebLinkAboutRivers for Life Vol. 1 No. 40
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Watershed Planning in WRIA 16
FOR LIFE Vol. 1 No.4
l sh9
Community Watershed Forums
Kidents of WRIA 16 gathered in September to
find out about the results of a Technical Assessment of
the watershed. The community meetings in Hoodsport
and Brinnon generated lively conversation, and identified
important issues and questions about the watershed. This
newsletter features the key questions that were asked in
both meetings, and a brief response. If you wish to find
out more about minimum instream flow, hydraulic conti-
nuity, and exempt wells, come to the Planning Unit meet-
ings. Please see p. 4 for a schedule of upcoming agenda
items.
"What's thepmhlem? We've gotplenty of water,
why do we need a plan ?"
Chris Pitre of Golder Associates,who prepared the
Level l Technical Assessment, explained that although
there appears to be a lot of water in WRIA 16, the amount
of water in the rivers and streams varies greatly during the
year. During the dry periods there is not enough water in
the rivers to meet proposed ninirrrranimtmamflow Mini-
mum instream flow can be thought of as a water right for
the river. It is a water right that protects the important
resources of the river. Often this resource is fish habitat,
but it also can be aesthetics or recreation. The Depart-
ment of Ecology (DOE) needs to consider impact on
stream flow for all new water rights it issues. DOE's view
is that citizens at the local level are in the best position to
provide guidance on what the community's priorities are
for future water rights. That is what this watershed plan-
ning process is about.
"How can the little water use that's in the water-
shed have an impact on the minimum instwam
flow?"
Water use tends to increase in the summer when
stream flows are lowest, so the impact can be substantial.
The Planning Unit meeting on December 12, 2002 will
include a discussion of the role of minimum instream flow
in the watershed plan.
(Continued on page 2)
Another question common to both meetings
focused on the disparity in the quantity of water
available to wells that are quite close to one an-
other.
" Whyis it that close neighbors have arte-
sian wells which run continuously, while oth-
ers endure a scamity of water? What is the
geological cause forsuch disparity, when we
alllive in such close pmxmrity?"
The connections between different aquifers,
and between aquifers and rivers, are complex
Chris Pitre explained that one well may be drawing
from a confined aquifer, while another well
close -by draws from an aquifer that is in hyrli-aulic
wail u with the river.
Whatis hydraulic continuity. Whyis it
important,
H)rbr is arrim ty is the interconnection be-
tween ground water (aquifers) and surface water
sources. Ground water and surface water that are
hydraulically connected cannot be considered as
independent resources. A withdrawal from one will
affect the other. The technical assessments con-
ducted as part of the watershed planning process
can provide information on hydraulic continuity
that is needed to assess whether a new water right
will have an impact on minirnum instream flow.
On the other hand, when instream flow goes
down, ground water may go down as well. So the
impact of well use on stream flow and stream flow
on ground water and wells, is reciprocal.
What's Next?
December 12,3:00-5:00
Planning Unit identifies preliminary list of issues where more
data is needed, e.g.,
impact of wells on stream flow, and
water quality in major drainages and tributaries, especially
in more developed areas of WRIA 16.
January 9, L•00 -5:00
Planning Unit sets priorities for water resources management
Plan.
All citizens are welcome to attend and share their comments
with the Planning Unit.
"All of this has been very useful in helping me to understand
where the WRIAs fit into the overall scheme of things. "
Tom McNerny, Brinnon resident & Chair, Jefferson Co. Planning Commission
/d.
Watershed residents gathered on
September 5,
at the Brinnon Booster Club to
hear the results of the WRIA 16
Level 1
Technical Assessment.
Some of the watershed planning issues
identified by those who attended the
meeting include:
The possibility of a community
water system for Olympic
Canal Tracts, or downtown
Brinnon.
Fecal coliform impairment at the
mouths of the Dosewallips &
Duckabush Rivers.
Hydraulic continuity, including
differences in water
availability for wells in the
sub - basin.
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RIA 16 i
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YVII
Hoods
Surface Water Certificates
and Permits (Total Qa)
■ 0 -5
5 -10
0 10-100
100-500
® > 500
(Aggregated by section)
Note: Excludes power, fish
propogation, and fire
suppression water rights.
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Water Bodies
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Townships
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Sub -Basin B&Kdan
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ctions
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County Boundaries
■
amities
Reservations
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Roads
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a
�s
Groundwater Certificates
and Permits (Total Qa)
• 0 -5
5 -10
4 10-100
100-500
® > 500
(Aggregated by section)
Note: Excludes power, fish
propogation, and fire
suppression water rights.
LEGEND
VVRIH 10 mivers ana Jlrearns
®>s o WRIA14 Water Bodies
ficlu y
' Earies� 'To
wnships
Sub -Basin B fr an Tfi ons
County Boundaries • s
s ' Reservations % Roads
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Scale 1"= 5 Miles
Map Projection: Washington
State Plane, NA083, North, Feet
Community Watershed Forums., con't.
How might unused water rights be addressed in a
watershed plan? (See "Citizens Want to Know... ")
• Can WRIA 16 take a look at the water quality issues
connected to the growing seal population at the
mouth of the Hamma Hamma River?
• What is an exempt well? (See "Citizens Want to
Know... ")
What might the impact of the watershed plan be on
Lake Cushman?
Chris Pitre of Golder Associates talks with a WRIA 16 resident
about the technical assessment after the community meeting
in Hoodsport.
Seals, water quality and WRIA 16
Water quality in the rivers and streams is one of the areas that the WRIA 16 Planning Unit will address. Currently there is a
Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) planning initiative underway for the Skokomish River. The Level 1 Technical Assessment
identified impairment due to fecal coliform at the mouths of the Dosewallips and Duckabush Rivers. The water quality work of
WRIA 16 will be focused on the rivers, the watershed planning process does not address issues of water quality in Hood Canal.
Lake Cushman and the WRIA 16 watershed plan:
Because of ongoing litigation, the hydroelectric dams in the North Fork of the Skokomish River are "off- the - table" in terms of
assessment of the dams and their effect on the watershed. The Lake Cushman community is represented on the WRIA 16 Plan-
ning Unit, which is developing the watershed plan that may affect future administration of water rights. Lake Cushman is #1 in
the State in terms of water- rights applications.
Citizens Want to Know...
"What about municipalities that have water rights and never use them? Seventy- fiveyears ago, the
City ofBremerton was granted a water right on the Hamma Hamma fora power generating station.
They decided it was economica //y unfeasible, and never built the plant but they soll have the water right.
Are PUDs and service districts subject to relinquishment?"
The relinquishment of unused water rights by municipalities is a big issue statewide. The principle behind
relinquishment is "use it or lose it." A watershed plan might address the issue of unused water rights.
"Why aren't wells included in your list of water rights?- `
A well that uses less than 5,000 gals. /day and /or that is used to irrigate less than 112 acre, does not
require a water right, i.e., it is exempt. The list of water rights applications in the Technical Assessment
does not include wells But exempt wells are assessed in terms of water use because of the need to esti-
mate current and future water use in light of population growth.
/r
Jason Manassee, Sr. Planner
(360) 427 -9670, ext.. 294
r-.
To get a copy of the
Level i Technical Assessment of WRIA 16
on CD -ROM, send a request to
Jason Manassee at the address above.
RIVERS FOR LIFE is designed and edited by Barbara Bowen,
Natural Resources, Jefferson Go. If you have ideas for future
issues, you can contact Barbara at (360) 379 -4498 or
bbowen@ co.jefferson.wa.us.
/t0
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PERIMiff NO. 45
- shed management plan.
Feb. 13 Minimum instmam flow
& hydraulic continuity
4