On Sept. 26, 2005, we adopted Chapter 173-505 WAC, the Stillaguamish Instream Resources Protection Program. This rule limits most new water uses in the Stillaguamish basin after that date.
Allowed uses of water
While the rule limits many new water uses, it does not affect:
- Water rights established before Sept. 26, 2005.
- Permit-exempt groundwater use established before Sept. 26, 2005.
- People supplied by city water systems or other large water systems.
Additionally, the rule allows some new uses of water in three limited instances:
- Single or small group domestic uses relying on permit-exempt wells, limited basin-wide to five cubic feet per second or 3,231,575 gallons of water per day of groundwater.
- Single indoor domestic uses supplied from lakes and ponds, not to exceed 150 gallons per day, per residence.
- Stock water uses are limited basin-wide to one cubic foot per second of surface water and 20 acre-feet per year of groundwater.
Tracking new water uses
The rule also requires us to track these new groundwater and stock water uses. We account for new uses annually, based on data from the previous year. The documents below are our most recent records.