Washington Administrative Code
Title 173 - Ecology, Department of (See also Titles 197, 317, 372, and 508)
Chapter 173-100 - Groundwater management areas and programs
Section 173-100-050 - Probable groundwater management areas
Current through Register Vol. 24-06, March 15, 2024
The department in cooperation with local government and groundwater user groups shall identify probable groundwater management areas.
(1) Probable groundwater management areas may be proposed for identification at any time by the department upon its own motion or at the request of other state agencies, local government or groundwater user groups.
(2) Probable groundwater management area boundaries shall be delineated so as to enclose one or more distinct bodies of public groundwater as nearly as known facts permit. Probable groundwater management subareas shall be delineated so as to enclose all or any part of a distinct body of public groundwater. Boundaries shall be based on hydrogeologic properties such as limits to lateral extent of aquifers, major perennial rivers, and regional groundwater divides or as deemed appropriate by the department to most effectively accomplish the purposes of this chapter.
(3) The criteria to guide identification of probable groundwater management areas shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
(4) The state agency, local government or groundwater user group requesting probable groundwater management area identification shall provide sufficient information for the department to determine if the area should be so identified. The department and other affected state and local governments and user groups may cooperate in preparing the request for identification.
(5) If the department is proposing an area for identification, the department shall prepare a report containing the information in subsection (4)(a) of this section, hold a public meeting, and submit the report to affected state and local agencies and groundwater user groups for their review and comment.
(6) Based upon review of the request for identification together with any comments received and a finding that the proposed area meets the guidelines and criteria of subsections (2) and (3) of this section, the department shall identify the proposed area as a probable groundwater management area, establish the general planning boundaries and appoint a lead agency. When a probable groundwater management area is included within only one county and that county indicates its desire to assume lead agency status, the department shall appoint the county as lead agency. The department shall notify affected state and local agencies, groundwater user groups, tribal governments and local news media of such identification.
Statutory Authority: Chapters 43.27A and 90.44 RCW. 88-13-037 (Order 88-11), § 173-100-050, filed 6/9/88. Statutory Authority: RCW 90.44.400. 86-02-004 (Order DE 85-24), § 173-100-050, filed 12/20/85.