Washington Administrative Code › Title 173 - Ecology, Department of (See also Titles 197, 317, 372, and 508) › Chapter 173-546 - Water resources management program - Entiat River basin water resource inventory area (WRIA) 46 › Section 173-546-050 - Establishment of instream flows

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
(1) The
			 instream flows established in this chapter are based on the recommendations of
			 the Entiat planning unit and public input received during the rule-making
			 process. These instream flows are established in accordance with
			 RCW
			    90.82.080, and are necessary to meet the
			 water resource management and ecosystem maintenance objectives of the Entiat
			 watershed plan. Instream flows can serve to protect senior water
			 rights.
(2) Instream flows
			 established in this chapter protect stream flows from future withdrawals, and
			 preserve flow levels that are necessary to protect wildlife, fish, water
			 quality, scenic, aesthetic and other environmental values, navigational values,
			 and stock watering requirements. In addition to protecting instream resources,
			 instream flows serve to protect senior water rights.
(3) Instream flows established here are water
			 rights. In accordance with
			 RCW
			    90.82.080(2)(a), the
			 planning unit determined by unanimous vote that the priority date of the
			 instream flows is the effective date of this chapter.
(4) All water rights established after the
			 priority date of the instream flows, and not covered under the reservation, are
			 expressly subject to these instream flows. Water rights junior to the instream
			 flow may be exercised when flow or groundwater conditions will provide enough
			 water to satisfy senior rights, including the instream flows. Withdrawals of
			 water which would conflict with instream flows shall be authorized only in
			 situations where it is clear that the overriding considerations of the public
			 interest will be served.
(5) The
			 reservation of water established in WAC
			 173-546-070 will have a priority
			 date senior to the instream flows. Full use of the reservation will not
			 diminish the protective levels established by the instream flows in WAC
			 173-546-050, and is necessary to
			 meet the water resource management and ecosystem maintenance objectives under
			 chapters 90.82 and
			 90.54 RCW.
(6) Instream flows are expressed in cubic
			 feet per second (cfs). Instream flows are measured at the control stations
			 identified in WAC
			 173-546-040.
(7) Instream flows are established for the
			 stream management units in WAC
			 173-546-040, as follows:
Instream Flows in the Entiat River Basin
(cubic feet per second)
Month
Days
USGS Gauge #12452990
USGS Gauge #12452800
USGS Gauge #12452890
Lower Entiat nr. Entiat, RM 1.4
Upper Entiat nr. Ardenvoir, RM 18
Mad River at Ardenvoir RM 0.35
January
1-31
185
175
32
February
1-29
185
175
32
March
1-15
185
175
32
16-31
250
285
68
April
1-15
250
325
100
16-30
350
375
100
May
1-15
474
375
100
16-31
720
375
100
June
1-15
898
325
100
16-30
617
325
100
July
1-15
359
275
68
16-31
268
275
68
August
1-15
185
275
68
16-31
185
275
51
September
1-30
185
175
32
October
1-31
185
175
32
November
1-30
185
175
32
December
1-31
185
175
32
Statutory Authority: Chapters 43.27A,
				  90.54, 90.22, and 90.82 RCW.
				  05-16-114 (Order 04-11), § 173-546-050, filed 8/3/05, effective
				  9/3/05.