DOE gets earful at WRIA meeting


Port Townsend Leader

9/21/05

Port Townsend, WA - There was a lot of applause at Tuesday night’s presentation on proposed new water rules, but it wasn’t for the Washington Department of Ecology. DOE staff members were continually peppered with questions and challenges during the Sept. 20 meeting at Fort Worden State Park, which lasted more than two hours.

One of those challenging the methodology upon which DOE’s new rules for Water Inventory Planning Area 17 (WRIA 17) was Keith Winters, a well driller. He called DOE’s theory of water continuity “junk science” as many of the 100 or more people in attendance nodded or muttered in agreement.

No one spoke up in favor of the rules, which are expected to limit new water rights – but not existing water rights.

DOE had planned to release a draft rule on ground and surface water consumption for Water Resource Inventory Area 17 (WRIA 17) on Oct 5, but Tuesday night, DOE staff said that a final draft of the rule probably won’t be available for months. WRIA 17 includes most of east Jefferson County and part of east Clallam County.

Although the WRIA process was authorized by the Legislature in 1998, 24th District Rep. Jim Buck (R-Joyce) and Rep. Lynn Kessler (D-Hoquiam) both said last week that the Legislature will want to consider changes to the law if its implications are shown to be unreasonable.

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Water opinions flow at DOE meeting

Port Townsend Leader - 9/21/05 - There was a lot of applause at the Sept. 20 presentation on proposed new water rules, but it wasn't for the Washington Department of Ecology. DOE staff members were continually peppered with questions and challenges during meeting at Fort Worden State Park attended by more than 100 people, most of who were visibly frustrated.

Tuesday night's meeting was an informal presentation on Water Resource Area 17 (WRIA 17), which includes East Jefferson County and part of Clallam County. The rules don't affect existing water rights, but they do limit the availability of water for those seeking water rights in the future.

Dave Nazy, a DOE hydrogeologist, tried to give an overview of how the agency has analyzed the amount of groundwater and surface water available. People were as upset with DOE's underlying data methodology as with its recommended policies.

One of those challenging the methodology upon which DOE's methodology was Keith Winters, a well driller. He called DOE's theory of water continuity “junk science” as many of the 100 or more people in attendance nodded or muttered in agreement.

“Do you have any real data that demonstrates the impact of wells on streams?” asked John Garrett of Cape George.

“A lot of little things add up to a big thing,” Nazy said of the water supply and fish issues.

No one spoke up in favor of the proposed rules during the boisterous meeting, which lasted nearly three hours.

DOE had planned to release a draft rule on ground and surface water consumption for (WRIA 17) on Oct 5, but Sept. 20, DOE staff said that a final draft of the rule probably wouldn't be available for months. Some said that they wished DOE would go away and never come back.

Hedia Adelsman, a DOE senior policy analyst, recapped the history of the 1998 legislation that created 62 WRIAs in Washington.

“DOE was accused of not protecting fish enough,” said Adelsman, and the WIRA process allows local communities decide how to address the issue. Under the law, DOE has the power to set stream flows if the local WIRA group - typically comprised of stakeholders such as tribes, conservationists, agricultural interests and municipal water systems - cannot reach agreement on its own.

Adelsman talked of progress being made in Eastern Washington, where water storage and conservation measures are making more water available to cattleman. Similar solutions could be implemented in WIRA 17, she said.

“The reality is there's not enough water in many cases,” said Adelsman.

Legislator observations

Although the WRIA process was authorized by the Legislature in 1998, 24th District Representatives Jim Buck (R-Joyce) and Lynn Kessler (D-Hoquiam) both said recently that the Legislature would want to consider changes to the law if its implications are shown to be unreasonable.

“Everybody wanted to do something about salmon,” said Buck of the 1998 legislative session. “But I doubt very seriously,” he said, that the law would have passed if legislators had known the implications being seen today. “These people have a right to be upset.”

Kessler said the rules are going to have a “great impact” on both agriculture and development. And if the WRIA rule-making process hasn't been “broad enough and inclusive enough,” she said, the Legislature is more than likely to step in and fix the situation.

The draft DOE rule for WRIA 17 may be viewed on-line at: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wr/instream-flows/quilsnowbasin.html