Washington Administrative Code
Title 173 - Ecology, Department of (See also Titles 197, 317, 372, and 508)
Chapter 173-166 - Emergency drought relief
Section 173-166-030 - Definitions
Current through Register Vol. 24-06, March 15, 2024
As used in this chapter:
(1) "Ecology" is the department of ecology.
(2) "Drought conditions" are water supply conditions where a geographical area or a significant part of a geographical area is receiving, or is projected to receive, less than seventy-five percent of normal water supply as the result of natural conditions and the deficiency causes, or is expected to cause, undue hardship to water users within that area.
(3) "Essential minimum" for the fisheries resource is:
(4) "Executive water emergency committee (EWEC)" is a committee, chaired by the governor's office, including members of state, local, and federal agencies which reviews water supply information provided by the water supply availability committee and determines potential effects of water shortages upon the state of Washington. Affected Indian tribes will be invited to participate.
(5) "Geographical area" is an area within the state of Washington which can be described either by natural or political boundaries and which can be specifically identified in an order declaring a drought emergency. Examples of specific geographical areas include, but are not limited to:
(6) "Normal water supply" is for the purpose of determining drought conditions, the median amount of water available to a geographical area, relative to the most recent thirty-year base period used to define climate normals. The determination of drought conditions will consider seasonal water supply forecasts, other relevant hydro-meteorological factors (e.g., precipitation, snowpack, soil moisture, streamflow, and aquifer levels) and also may consider extreme departures from normal conditions over subseasonal time frames.
(7) "Previously established activities" include:
(8) "Reasonably efficient practices" are those practices including, but not limited to, methods of conveyance, use, and disposal of water which are reasonable and appropriate under the circumstances to bring about water use efficiency as determined by an area-specific application of criteria identified by ecology, which may include, among others:
(9) "Supported registered water right claim" is a registered water right claim which includes sufficient evidence to satisfy ecology that a valid water right would be confirmed should the claim be adjudicated. Applications made for emergency drought permits or water transfers under this chapter must incorporate, either by reference or inclusion, necessary information to enable ecology to make an informed determination with respect to the claim. Such information may include, but is not limited to:
(10) "Water supply availability committee (WSAC)" is a committee, with a core membership consisting of ecology, the National Weather Service, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, the U.S. Geological Survey, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, and other federal agencies involved in water supply forecasting, which reviews pertinent hydro-logical and meteorological information and assesses water supply conditions for the state of Washington.