We hope the information in this report will help people in the Kettle River watershed protect the supply and quality of their water as they try to meet the demand for new water uses, she said. The entire watershed contains 4,200 square miles, most of it in British Columbia. The report only evaluates water conditions in the area within Washington State. After discussing the results with local governments and groups interested in water supply, Ecology will use the information to make decisions on applications for new water uses. Bruce Howard, Ecology s regional water resources supervisor, said 634 water rights have been issued in the watershed and 1,011 claims have been filed for water uses that pre-date the state s water rights program.
Most existing uses are for irrigation, towns and homes.
Most of the 50 applications for new uses are also for irrigation and domestic use. These uses need water during the summer and fall and that s when the streams are lowest. The problem is that when water is most needed, it is in shortest supply, said Howard. Ecology is required by law to make sure that any new water rights the agency issues do not harm people who already have a legal right to use water or instream uses. Howard noted this doesn t mean new applications will have to be denied.