Ecology amends Nooksack River watershed rules on streamflow and Whatcom rural wells

The Washington Department of Ecology has amended an instream flow rule that attempts to provide water for new rural Whatcom County residents and benefit streamflows in the Nooksack River watershed, according to a news release.

The amendment, announced Thursday, May 28, also affects small parts of Skagit County, according to the release.

“This rule amendment balances the needs of future rural growth in the Nooksack watershed while protecting and restoring local streamflows. We appreciate all the public engagement received throughout this process,” said Ria Berns, manager of Ecology’s Water Resources Program for the Northwest Region, in the release.

The amendment allows for excess water to be saved during high flow periods to be released during the summer during typically low flowing periods to help bolster streams. The amendment also creates a new standard for domestic permit-exempt wells and makes minor technical updates to the existing rule.

This amendment, made Thursday by the Department of Ecology in the streamflow restoration plan that was passed by the state Legislature in 2018, takes effect June 27. As part of the plan, 15 WRIAs were required to develop and set up locally approved watershed plans.

WRIA 1, the Nooksack River watershed, did not meet a Feb. 1, 2019, deadline to present the plan, so the Department of Ecology took action and began rulemaking, a formal process to change the law.