Since 2018, the Washington Department of Ecology and local and Tribal governments have been working under the Streamflow Restoration Act to boost streamflows and offset impacts from new domestic permit-exempt well users.
These rule amendments in five watersheds are the final step in the multi-year planning process aimed at restoring streamflows to levels that support healthy salmon populations. Watersheds included in the rulemaking are the Snohomish, Cedar-Sammamish, Deschutes, Kennedy-Goldsborough and Kitsap watersheds.
The rulemaking marks the culmination of six years of work and collaboration.
Throughout this rulemaking process, Ecology has prioritized transparency, outreach and collaboration. We worked closely with Tribal natural resource directors and chairpersons, offering government-to-government consultations as well as frequent staff-to-staff technical discussions.
We also engaged with local governments and the public. We maintained transparency by providing detailed information on the potential impacts of these amendments.
Why these changes matter
In 2018, the Washington Legislature passed the Streamflow Restoration Law. This law was designed to offset potential impacts to streamflows from new domestic permit-exempt wells and boost streamflows to levels that support healthy and sustainable salmon populations.
The law required Ecology to amend the existing rules to incorporate plan recommendations within two years to ensure protections passed by the Legislature in 2018 continue.
The amendments apply to new permit-exempt wells within these watersheds. The protections in the rule help address potential flow impacts from rural residential development in streams.
Streamflow restoration
In addition to rules and planning, the Streamflow Restoration Law unlocked $300 million in grant money to invest in streamflow restoration projects throughout the state.
So far, we’ve awarded about $130 million for 88 projects throughout the state. This includes a little over $12 million in the five watersheds affected by the latest amendment. To learn more about streamflow restoration grants, visit our website.
Washington’s Water Future
Ensuring that there is enough water to meet the needs of Washington's farms, fish and our growing communities is the focus of a new initiative launched by Gov. Bob Ferguson. The initiative, Washington's Water Future, aims to identify long-term strategies around storage, conservation and restoration to protect streamflows and water supplies across the state.