DIP Strategy  #18 AKA Interim Milestone 3.5

A work group representing basin-wide interests and agencies will convene to oversee the current and future scientific studies, and to develop and oversee the public process to recommend instream flow levels for the Chehalis Basin.  (Reference: WMP Table 7, Action 54, page 26)

 

Potential Oversight Responsibility

·         Steering Technical Committee

·         Department of Ecology

·         Department of Fish and Wildlife

·         Quinault Indian Nation

·         Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis

 

 

Interim Milestones (IM)

Potential IM Participant(s)                 

Timelines

1.       The Chehalis Basin Partnership designates the Steering Technical Committee as the workgroup identified in Action 54 to initiate implementation of a process to recommend instream flows

a.       The Steering Technical Committee will create an “Instream Flow Subgroup” to address the reevaluation of existing regulatory minimum instream flows establishment of new minimum instream flows, and monitoring of existing flows

b.       Intent of setting minimum instream flows is to ensure that “base flows,” or low summer flows (June through late September) would be sufficient to provide for preservation of fish and wildlife, recreation, and aesthetic (scenic) uses

·         Chehalis Basin Partnership

·         Steering Technical Committee

·         Department of Health

·         Department of Ecology

·         Chehalis Confederated Tribes & Quinault Indian Nation

·         Department of Fish & Wildlife

 

2.       The Instream Flow Subgroup meets with Department of Fish and Wildlife, Department of Ecology, Chehalis Confederated Tribes, and Quinault Indian Nation to evaluate the current status of IFIM for the 12 streams identified during the 2003 work

a.       Begin with four streams for which there is currently adequate IFIM/PHABSIM information and flow date (Satsop at RM 5, Skookumchuck at RM 1, Chehalis above Pe El at RM 110.9, and Humptulips at RM 23.8)

b.       Next, evaluate and discuss six streams for which IFIM/PHABSIM data was gathered in 1985 Department of Game.  This data has been updated with up to date preference curves that reflects current scientific knowledge about fish preference’s regarding depth, velocity, and substrate.  IFIM/PHABSIM data are now available for Chehalis near Ceres, Mainstem Newaukum, SF Newaukum, NF Newaukum, Cloquallum, and Wishkah.

c.       Decide whether to review and discuss the 31 stream management points in WAC 173-522 and which need to have instream flows modified from the 1976 rule, based on new data and hydrology.  (According to current State and Federal laws, all existing and new minimum instream flows must protect the Quinault Indian Nation and Chehalis Confederated Tribes reserved hunting and fishing rights with a priority date of time immemorial.

·         Department of Ecology

·         Department of Fish and Wildlife

·         Chehalis Confederated Tribes and Quinault Indian Nation

·         Counties

 

3.       Instream Flow Subgroup commences inventory of areas where there are no instream flow requirements to determine if an instream flow is needed, identifies information gaps, and identifies basins at risk of resource loss (i.e. areas of rapid or increasing growth).

·         Department of Ecology

·         Chehalis Confederated Tribes and Quinault Indian Nation

·         Counties

·         Citizens Advisory Group

·         Federal agencies

 

4.       Steering Technical Committee will determine what flows are hydrologically achievable.  This task was conceived with the understanding that the Corp’s contract with Batelle would help to answer this task.  This need to be done concurrently with tasks such as the workgroup and IFIM tasks

a.       Complete a water balance study for each subbasin, considering wet-year, dry-year, and possibility of “target flows.”

b.       Estimate predevelopment flows.

·         Steering Technical Committee

·         Department of Ecology

·         Chehalis Confederated Tribes and Quinault Indian Nation

·         US Geologic Survey

·         Department of Health

 

5.       Bring in stakeholders and negotiate recommended instream flows as described in WMP Supplement, page IV-34

a.       Establish a program to protect the Quinault Indian Nation and the Chehalis Confederated Tribes senior instream flow rights on a voluntary basis.  Regulatory programs will be implemented if protection standards are not met voluntarily.

b.       Voluntarily protect all established minimum instream flows as senior water right status, regardless of their establishment date.

c.       Consider all goals, objectives, and current information in establishing minimum instream flows.

d.       Make more water available for instream uses, especially in the time period from roughly April through October.  Most important are the months from July through October.

·         Steering Technical Committee

·         Department of Health

·         Department of Ecology

·         Department of Fish & Wildlife

·         Chehalis Confederated Tribes & Quinault Indian Nation

·         Legislature

·         Governor

·         Washington Attorney General

 

6.       At a minimum, stream flows at each of the 31 sites, where minimum flows were established in regulation in 1976, should be regularly monitored to determine if the flows are being met.  This action includes voluntary and state mandated monitoring.[i]  Clarifying statement for Action 55-Streamflows at each of the sites, where minimum flows had been established in regulation should be regularly monitored and reported to the Chehalis Basin Partnership

·         Department of Health

·         Department of Ecology

·         Department of Fish & Wildlife

·         Chehalis Confederated Tribes & Quinault Indian Nation

·         Counties

·         Cities

·         US Geologic Survey

 

7.       The Partnership encourages voluntary flow monitoring at other sites in the Chehalis Basin.  Clarifying point for Action 56- Identify protocol to use for voluntary flow monitoring.[ii]

a.       A focus should be placed on gauging and increasing needed summertime flows in the streams and rivers of the basin

·         Chehalis Basin Partnership

·         Citizens Advisory Committee

 

8.       Develop recommendations to meet instream flows using suggestions such as those identified on page IV-27 of the WMP Supplement

a.       Steering Technical Committee and Department of Ecology jointly develop an enforcement program to require junior water right holders to stop diverting water when regulatory base flows are not met.

b.       Ecology and Steering Technical Committee determine the status and seniority of existing water rights certificates, and claims within the basin (partial adjudication).

c.       Recommend that the watershed be closed to all new water rights claims until the process of allocating surface and groundwater has been determined.

d.       Establish exempt well monitoring program and identify those basins where surface waters are being impacted and close basin to future exempt well withdrawals (this issue needs further work by the Steering Technical Committee).

·         Department of Health

·         Department of Ecology

·         Department of Fish & Wildlife

·         Chehalis Confederated Tribes & Quinault Indian Nation

·         Counties

·         Cities

·         Chehalis Basin Partnership

·         Steering Technical Committee

 

 

Resources Needed for Project:

 

 

Estimated Cost for Project:

 

 

Project Coordinator:

 

 

 

Permits or Approvals Needed:

 


 

[i] WMP Action 55

[ii] WMP Action 56