Washington Administrative Code
Title 173 - Ecology, Department of (See also Titles 197, 317, 372, and 508)
Chapter 173-152 - Water rights
Section 173-152-040 - Basin assessments
Current through Register Vol. 24-06, March 15, 2024
(1) The department may conduct assessments to assemble and compare information related to:
(2) The department may also enter into agreements or contracts with public or private parties to conduct assessments.
(3) In cooperation with federal, state, tribal, and local jurisdictions and other interested parties, each regional office and the department in processing applications under chapter 90.90 RCW will consider assessing a geographic area or water source within its service area using criteria such as:
(4) Each regional office and the department in processing applications under chapter 90.90 RCW may conduct multiple basin assessments at the same time. When the department determines conducting a basin assessment is in the public interest, it will:
(5) Initial basin or water source assessments will be conducted to assemble the following existing information:
(6) Upon completion and publication of the initial basin assessment, the department will consult with the public and federal, state, tribal, local jurisdictions and interested parties to evaluate the basin assessment. The evaluation will assess the data, analysis, and presentation of information in the basin assessment in terms of quality, adequacy, and utility to make decisions on future water resource allocation and use.
(7) The department will make decisions on competing applications for water from a water source within the basin where sufficient information for water resource allocation exists. If the department determines that the information assembled and compared is not sufficient, the department may withdraw the water source from appropriation pursuant to RCW 90.54.050(2). The department in consultation with the public, federal, state, tribal, local jurisdictions and interested parties will design and conduct additional investigations, to the extent resources allow, to obtain the information necessary to make future decisions on water allocation and use.
(8) The department shall make available on-line information obtained and compiled during an initial basin assessment of the water resources in a basin or water source.
Statutory Authority: RCW 43.21A.064(9), 43.27A.090(11), chapters 90.03, 90.44, 90.54, and 90.82 RCW. 11-01-126 (Order 09-05), § 173-152-040, filed 12/20/10, effective 1/20/11. Statutory Authority: RCW 43.21A.064(8) and 43.27A.090(11). 98-06-042 (Order 97-14), § 173-152-040, filed 2/27/98, effective 3/30/98.