WRIA 43 Phase 3 Plan Development Building a Watershed Plan with the Functions and Values of the WRIA 43 Planning Unit May 16 th, 2006 Meeting

Steering Committee is developing and reviewing the contents of the Plan Scott BarrCarol Paul Dennis BlyDean White Eddie JohnsonDon Rolfe JoAnne KrupkeDan Rossman Dave Lundgren (LCCD)Keith Holiday (Ecol.)

OLD BUSINESS TIME SCHEDULE  Looking to get draft Watershed Plan submitted to Planning Unit at June 20 th, 2006 (grant requires by July 17, 2006) so have time to review during summer.  During summer (June-July) will conduct public meetings  Meeting with commissioners again in June  Commissioner presentations & SEPA (Aug-Sept) –Lincoln, Grant and Adams Counties

Old Business 1) Spokane County Update 2) Budgets submitted –Propose an initial hydrostratigraphy study –Initiate gauging at the outfall of WRIA 43 to include an estimate of groundwater discharge –Fund gauging at Rocky Ford and Irby –Conduct losing/gaining reach study on Crab Creek & Conduct FLIR study on Crab Creek –Initiate well abandonment program (setup database, prioritize) 3) Voting Status

UPCOMING MEETINGS OF INTEREST  May 17 th (Wednesday): WRIA 59 Ecology discussion on the adjudication process: streamlined vs. normal. Discussion on WRIA 59 adjudication, and potential adjudication in Spokane Valley Aquifer. Meeting at Chewelah City Hall, 9-12 am  May 18 th (Thursday): CRI EIS Scoping Meeting. Colville Agricultural Trade Center, 4-7 pm. (also will be held in Moses Lake at Fire Dept. Multi-purpose room from 4-7 pm on May 22 nd.)  May 24 th (Wednesday): WRIA 54 discussion on adjudication and the Spokane Valley adjudication. Airway Heights Community Center, W. 13 th Ave. Upstairs Courtroom.

Basic Over Riding Principal of the Watershed Plan “The Crab Creek watershed is a unique and poorly understood physical and biological environment that requires local input for management to protect the interests and values of the residents and landowners within the watershed”.

MISSION STATEMENT “ To develop a plan to manage and protect the water and related resources in an environmentally and economically sound manner that is in the interest of the residents and landowners of the Upper Crab Creek Watershed.” (adopted by PU on November 20th, 2001)

INITIAL GOALS  During the Phase I planning process, three goals were identified for the planning process. These were approved by the Planning Unit in November 2001 and were identified as: –To analyze and document existing and historic status of water resources in the Upper Crab Creek Watershed and plan for the future needs of the citizens of the watershed. –To develop a plan for the people of the Upper Crab Creek Watershed which respects cultural and historic values, as well as environmental functions of the watershed. –To implement the plan and monitor its effectiveness in meeting the intent of the mission statement with periodic evaluation.

PHASE 3 GOALS –Water Quantity Goal: Define and manage the available water resources in the watershed for economic, domestic, and environmental uses. –Water Quality Goal: Improve overall water quality in surface and groundwater where determined necessary without adversely impacting the economy within the watershed. –Habitat Goal: Maintain fish and wildlife habitat within the watershed for a balance of economic and recreational purposes through efficient and effective management programs by local stewardship. –Instream Flow Goal: Evaluate flow within the mainstem of Crab Creek to support the goals of the Plan and determine if an instream flow recommendation is warranted. –Water Storage Goal: Develop feasible water storage projects to support and enhance water needs within the watershed.

PHASE 3 GOALS –6) General Planning Goal: Develop a local comprehensive watershed plan which provides a cooperative framework for water resource management and decision making in WRIA 43. –7) Economic Goal: To implement and promote water resource planning that encourages economic growth within the watershed.

Recommended Minimum Flows for Protection of Fish Habitat (trout) Month Rocky Ford Irby Range in Rpt Recom. Recom. October cfs 18 cfs 28 cfs November cfs 28 cfs >5 cfs 5 cfs December cfs 28 cfs > 5 cfs 5 cfs January cfs 28 cfs > 5 cfs 5 cfs February cfs 28 cfs > 5 cfs 5 cfs March 50 cfs (3/1) 50 cfs cfs 10 cfs April↓ 37 cfs cfs 10 cfs May 24 cfs (5/31) 24 cfs cfs 10 cfs June cfs 18 cfs 28 cfs July cfs 18 cfs 28 cfs August cfs 18 cfs 28 cfs September cfs 18 cfs 28 cfs

Recommended Flows

CONDITIONS  The Planning Unit does not want to recommend a reservation account with the instream rule making process and does not support any such reservation associated with the instream flow rule making process.  Ecology to only condition future surface water diversions to the instream flow that are within the perennial reaches of Crab Creek at the Irby and Rocky Ford Road gauging locations, that section of creek which is no further than 1.15 mile upstream of each gauging station (the reaches that were evaluated in the Phase 2 Technical Assessment). This is recommended as a result of the hydraulic analysis conducted during the instream flow study between the two gauging stations which revealed that there is no correlation of flows between the gauging stations and the creek is flowing under unique hydrologic conditions. And the findings that the instream flow analysis is limited in its ability to represent the actual environment that exists throughout the Crab Creek Watershed.

CONDITIONS (cont)  Ecology to only condition future groundwater withdrawals to the instream flow that are demonstrated to have a direct hydraulic continuity to the creek, such as wells within the unconsolidated sediment aquifers. Also Ecology to exempt groundwater withdrawals from an interruptible status if they meet the following provisions: –Groundwater withdrawal is extracting groundwater from the Grande Ronde basalt aquifers. –Groundwater wells are cased throughout the unconsolidated sediments and a minimum of 200-feet into the basalt bedrock. –Proponent of a groundwater well to be completed in the unconsolidated sediment aquifer and/or Wanapum aquifer that does not meet the previous two criteria demonstrates there is not a direct hydraulic connection from the groundwater withdrawal to the stream reach where the gauging station is located, which is based upon best available science.

CONDITIONS (cont)  Ecology to reopen instream flow rule in 10-years after initial adoption date and reevaluate if flows should be modified if additional data and analysis is available. Ecology and WDFW will work with the WRIA 43 watershed group in a cooperative effort to reach agreement on any future flow modifications, if proposed.  Ecology or other state agencies will not propose any new or modify future existing instream flows within WRIA 43 unless they are negotiated and agreed upon with the local watershed planning group (and any subsequent adaptations to the implementation group).

CONDITIONS (cont)  Ecology is obligated to use the mutually agreed upon flow levels for their draft rule and must start the process over from the beginning with local negotiated input if the public testimony at the hearings is strongly for recommending a different flow level.  Ecology not to condition any domestic exempt wells to the instream flow rule

TABLE of Contents  Preliminary TOC was reviewed by PU in February  Additions/Subtractions have been made while Plan is under development  Need to approve one option

SEPA Options 1.Adoption and Determination of Significance (DS): can be issued if it is determined that the statewide EIS document adequately addresses the probable significant adverse impacts associated with the recommended alternatives in the Plan. -Does not require a public comment period or public notice -Just notify agencies w/ jurisdiction, and interested parties

SEPA Options 2.Adoption and Determination of Significance (DS) and addendum: could be prepared and issued if is determined that the statewide EIS document adequately addresses the probable significant adverse impacts associated with the recommended alternatives in the Plan, but there is a need to provide local decision makers with additional minor information regarding the Plan. -Requires preparation of addendum document to be circulated w/ the notice of DS -Does not require a public comment period or public notice -Just notify agencies w/ jurisdiction, and interested parties

SEPA Options 3.Adoption and Supplemental Environmental EIS: could be prepared and issued if is determined that the statewide EIS document addresses some, but not all, of the probable significant adverse impacts associated with the recommended alternatives in the Plan, and there is a need to conduct additional environmental analysis. -Notice of adoption is included in the supplemental EIS -Lead agency does not have to conduct scoping meetings -Draft Supplemental EIS is circulated to agencies and public for 30-day comment period -Does require a public comment period and public notice -Prepare and circulate a final EIS

SEPA Options 4.Adoption and Determination of Non- Significance (DNS): could be issued if it is determined that there are no probable significant adverse impacts associated with the recommended alternatives in the Plan. -Copies of adoption notice and DNS must be circulated to Ecology and agencies w/ jurisdiction

TASK 3 Memorandum ISSUE 1.ISF-1: WRIA 43 is a hydraulically unique and complex system of streams 2.Wqual-1: Poor water quality is a threat to human health and the environment 3.Hab-1: The physical and biological relationship in Crab Creek is one of the most poorly understood ecosystems in the northwestern United States 4.Wstore-1: There is insufficient available water resources in WRIA 43 5.Wquan-1: Management of water in WRIA 43 is required

TASK 3 Memorandum GOALS 1.ISF-1: -Started with 4 Goals -Added 1 more during Plan writing 2.Wqual-1: -Started with 6 Goals 3.Hab-1: - Started with 3 Goals 4.Wstore-1: -Started with 3 Goals -Added 1 more during Plan writing 5.Wquan-1: - Started with 5 Goals -Added 3 more during Plan writing

Goal Prioritization Ranking- WRIA 43 Whole Planning Unit 12345ScrRank ISF-1WRIA 43 is a hydraulically unique and complex system of streams 1 AProtect instream resources T BUnderstand the physical properties of the streams CAddress data gaps identified in Phase 2 Technical Assessment T DUnderstand the aquifer conditions in the WRIA T WQUAL-1Poor water quality is a threat to human health and the environment 2 ACollect additional water quality data T BFurther assess water quality data T CImprove impaired water bodies (lead to TMDL objectives) T DProtect high quality water EWell Head Protection Plans within the WRIA are current T FEducate public about water quality issues T Hab-1 The physical and biological relationship in Crab Creek is one of the most poorly understood ecosystems in the northwestern United States 3 AFurther assess Habitat T BProtect existing fisheries habitat T CEducate public on habitat conditions T Wstore-1There may be insufficient available water resources in WRIA 43 4 AAssess water availability BEducate public on water availability T CDevelop a balanced utilization of available water for needs in watershed T Wquan-1Management of Water in WRIA 43 is required 5 AUnderstand the physical properties of surface and groundwater T BDevelopment of a database of water resource information for WRIA T CDetermine Growth projections for the WRIA D Cooperative management (shared governance) of water resources with state agencies T EDetermine municipal water suppliers inchoate rights (???)

EARLY ACTION ITEMS  The Planning Unit has a set aside of money from the Phase 3 Grant  This money can be used to conduct early action items specifically identified in Plan  Action items can consist of Development of Planning items, and/or initiation of studies on projects  Need input on what the priority items are so it can be spelled out in the Plan

OPEN DISCUSSION ISSUE  Looking to the future – Implementing the Plan: Who-How-When  Forming a Watershed Implementation Team (WIT) to oversee and implement Plan  Forward looking to setup a partnership to assist in the water resource decision making in the watershed  State law deems Ecology as the sole managers for water resources

Gene St.Godard, P.G., L.HG. Principal Hydrogeologist/Owner Water & Natural Resource Group P.O. Box 28755, Spokane, WA ,

NEXT MEETING June 20 th DAVENPORT PUBLIC WORKS BUILDING

OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD QUESTIONS????

Flows-Rocky Ford

Flows at Irby