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We made changes to the aquatic life designated use of salmonid spawning, rearing, and migration on the Chelan River through a use attainability analysis (UAA) and rulemaking process. These adopted changes to the designated uses and criteria for the Chelan River were in response to a rulemaking request from the Public Utility District No. 1 of Chelan County (Chelan PUD).
Chelan PUD returned year-round flows to the Chelan River and established habitat along the river, and conducted a 10-year monitoring and adaptive management program to meet spawning, survival, and habitat use objectives for Chinook salmon, steelhead, and resident fish. Following this work, Chelan PUD submitted a request for a Use Attainability Analysis rulemaking for the aquatic life designated use on the Chelan River to better reflect current and historical uses.
A UAA is an approved water quality tool in Washington’s surface water quality standards (WAC 173-201A-440) and is used for removing or revising a designated use for a water body only if that use is not existing or attainable. A UAA is a scientific assessment of the physical, chemical, biological, and economic factors that may affect the attainment of the use.