Washington Administrative Code
Title 173 - Ecology, Department of (See also Titles 197, 317, 372, and 508)
Chapter 173-545 - Instream resources protection program - Wenatchee River basin, water resource inventory area (WRIA) 45
Section 173-545-060 - Instream flows based on watershed planning

(1) The instream flows established in this section are based on the recommendations of the Wenatchee watershed planning unit and public input received during the rule-making process. These instream flows are established under RCW 90.82.080, and are necessary to meet the water resource management and ecosystem maintenance objectives of the Wenatchee watershed plan.

(2) Instream flows established in this section protect stream flows from future appropriations, and preserve flow levels that are necessary to protect wildlife, fish, water quality, aesthetic and other environmental values, recreation, and navigational values.

(3) Instream flows in subsection (7) of this section established at new locations or in larger amounts than the instream flows in WAC 173-545-050(1) are water rights with a priority date of November 2, 2001.

(4) All water rights (surface and groundwater) established after the effective date of this rule, and not covered under the reservation in WAC 173-545-090, are 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. New appropriations 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) Based upon the department's determination of overriding considerations of public interest, the reservation of water established in WAC 173-545-090 is not subject to the instream flows in subsection (7) of this section or WAC 173-545-050(1).

(6) Instream flows are expressed in cubic feet per second (cfs). Instream flows are measured at the control stations identified in WAC 173-545-040.

(7) Instream flows are established for the stream management units in WAC 173-545-040, as follows:

Instream Flows in the Wenatchee River Basin

Based on Watershed Planning

(instantaneous cubic feet per second)

Instream Flows in the Wenatchee River Basin (cont'd)

(instantaneous cubic feet per second)

(8) Instream flow hydrographs, WAC 173-545-170, Appendix 1 to this rule, shall be used for identification of instream flows on those days not specifically identified in WAC 173-545-060(7).

(9) Future consumptive water right permits issued hereafter for the withdrawal of surface and groundwater from the mainstem Wenatchee River and tributaries shall be subject to instream flows established in subsection (7) of this subsection, except for those withdrawals eligible for the reservation under WAC 173-545-090.

(10) Projects that would reduce the flow in a portion of a stream's length (e.g.: Hydroelectric diversion projects) are consumptive with respect to the bypassed portion of the stream and are subject to specific instream flow requirements for the bypassed reach. The department may require detailed, project-specific instream flow studies to determine a specific instream flow for the bypassed reach. The flows established in subsection (7) of this section shall apply to the bypassed stream reach unless the department, by order, determines that different flows may be maintained in the bypassed reach.