Instream flows are scientifically-based surface water flows set by administrative rule to ensure that adequate water remains in a river for people and fish. Ecology is proposing to develop a step-by-step programmatic approach for setting instream flows. A programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (P-EIS) is being developed to analyze the environmental trade-offs of various flow setting approaches and flow assessment methods. It is intended to provide a broad level of information for use in all watersheds in Washington state and is expected to be supplemented with watershed specific information. This effort could be the forerunner to possible updating of Chapter 173-500 WAC, Water Resources Management Program Established Pursuant to the Water Resources Act of 1971.
Local watershed planning groups must go through the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) process prior to adopting a watershed plan. As part of that process, planning groups could then adopt the P-EIS by reference and provide supplemental, watershed-specific information.
The Watershed Management Act, Chapter 90.82 RCW, directs local watershed planning units to develop strategies on how to use water in the future, strategies which can include recommending instream flow levels. The purpose of the proposed P-EIS is to provide information for watershed planning groups to use as they develop strategies for their specific watersheds. The proposed P-EIS would:
Provide a comprehensive environmental evaluation of various approaches for identifying instream resource flow needs and help to clarify alternatives.
Present a broad array of flow assessment methods.
Discuss environmental tradeoffs and the potential pros and cons of alternative approaches.
Local planning groups would be able to save time and money by adopting the P-EIS because it will cover issues common to most watersheds. Environmental issues or impacts different or outside the scope of the P-EIS could then be addressed in a supplemental EIS or addendum prepared by the local watershed planning group.
This flow-setting P-EIS could also feed into a watershed planning EIS. As watershed planning and other groups develop flow recommendations for streams over the course of the next few years, they can use the P-EIS and supporting documentation to help them make informed decisions.
Public comment period on the scope of issues in the Non-Project Review Form and Determination of Significance (DS): January 22 to February 20, 2001.
Contact information can be found at the end of this document.
For the first time, Ecology is using an experimental draft Non-Project Review Form (NPRF) as the environmental analysis tool. We are using the NPRF because this proposal is not a specific project and because the NPRF is structured to collect information important for non-project environmental analysis in a simpler format than an EIS. This NPRF is the first step. The information collected in the NPRF will be used to write the draft P-EIS.
The purpose of scoping is to ensure that environmental factors are analyzed in sufficient depth and breadth. The NPRF covers many topics and Ecology is interested in comments on particular sections of the NPRF, including issues, objectives, impacts, alternatives, stakeholders, and areas of concern. The NPRF is available for review on Ecology s web page at the address listed below or you may request a copy be mailed to you.
Since this proposal is in the early stages of development, the information in the NPRF is preliminary and some may even be omitted because it has not yet been developed. When reviewing the form, a reader will be able to see what information Ecology has, and the issues and questions to which Ecology is planning to respond.
Ecology encourages your comments and ideas, along with those from planning, environmental, agricultural, fishing, recreation, and business groups, Indian tribes, local, state and federal agencies, and other interested parties. Comments received on the NPRF will help us write a draft P-EIS and later decide, in consultation with watershed planning groups, whether or not to update the instream flow rule. Ecology plans to complete a draft P-EIS in the spring of 2001.
The P-EIS will describe the background and history of flow setting and will incorporate by reference existing documents, such as the draft Instream Flow White Paper and Instream Flow Primer. (see web address below)
The P-EIS will describe flow assessment methods and goals for flow setting--what you are trying to accomplish by setting flows. The methods discussed are Instream Flow Incremental Methodology (IFIM), toe-width, Tennant, and correlation and statistical methods. (These are described in detail in the NPRF and the associated reference documents.) Using the appropriate method for a specific river or stream will provide the most accurate and usable information.
The simplified definitions for types of water flows used in this P-EIS and related documents are:
Target flow biologically-based, achievable flows to satisfy fish needs under the Endangered Species Act with no particular relation to state water law.
Restoration flow flows needed in a stream to provide a semblance of natural conditions.
Instream flow flows established by regulation.
Preservation flow flows are generally adequate to protect instream values.
Natural resource base adequate water quantity and quality to ensure a healthy, properly functioning watershed.
Flow approaches or goals depict the emphasis of the flows to be set. An example would be setting the flows at a level that would restore fish runs. The actual quantity at which a flow will be set will depend on the specific characteristics and conditions of a river or stream and will occur when an individual watershed is analyzed.
The web page address for this proposal, related documents, and supporting information:
[www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wr/instream-flows/]
For comments, questions, or copies of documents, contact:
Doug Rushton, Dept. of Ecology; PO Box 47600, Olympia, WA 98504-7600 (360) 407-6513, [drus461@ecy.wa.gov]
For technical or scientific questions about instream flows, contact:
Brad Caldwell, Dept. of Ecology; PO Box 47600, Olympia, WA 98504-7600 (360) 407-6639, [brca461@ecy.wa.gov] " Dr. Hal Beecher; Washington Dept. of Fish & Wildlife, PO Box 43200, Olympia, WA 98504; (360) 902-2421, [beechhab@dfw.wa.gov]
Public comment on the scope of issues in the Non Project Review Form and Determination of Significance will be accepted from January 22 until February 20, 2001. Contact information is at the end of this document.
Describe stream flow setting and needed levels to meet obligations under state law. Provide the scientific and policy framework and background for setting instream flows for watershed planning groups and others involved in water planning. The objectives of the proposal are to:
.1. Provide policy and assessment framework for watershed planning for protection of instream resources, while addressing out of stream needs to the extent possible by defining options for setting appropriate flow levels.
2. Provide planning certainty for watershed planning groups as they assess water resources within their basin.
3. Describe federal and state approaches for determining flow needs.
4. Describe options for local groups to identify appropriate flow levels where water is unavailable for ESA-listed fish.
5. Describe history of flow setting within Washington State and related factors.
6. Define the standard methods for establishing flows: the methods for measuring flows, including the instream flows, will be described; including instream flow incremental methodology (IFIM/PHABSIM), toe-width method, Tennant method (Montana Method), correlation method, and some miscellaneous approaches.
7. The goal of the EIS will be to describe the various flows needed to provide water for both instream and out of stream uses. Those goals will include a description and analysis of flows for preservation, restoration, natural resource base, and other functions
Washington State Department of Ecology, Water Resources Program
Washington State Department of Ecology
Statewide, with emphasis on watershed planning areas. Planning areas around the state will be able to adopt this programmatic EIS by reference.
Ecology has determined that some elements of the alternatives considered may have a significant adverse impact on the environment. In addition, Ecology believes a programmatic environmental impact statement may provide information useful in future rule making processes and decision making. As a result, Ecology will prepare an environmental impact statement [RCW 43.21C.030(2)(c)]. The experimental Non-Project Review Form is being used as an analysis tool. (See related documents and additional information section.)
The lead agency has identified the following areas for discussion in the EIS:
Methods for assessing flows: Instream flow incremental methodology (IFIM/PHABSIM), toe-width, Tennant method (Montana Method), correlation method, and some miscellaneous methods.
Flow goals: Target flows, preservation flows, restoration flows, natural resource base flows, etc.
Potential areas of environmental concern:
Clarifying how and when certain methodologies and goals are used and with what caveats will assist water planning efforts.
Agencies, affected tribes, and members of the public are invited to comment on the scope of the EIS. You are invited to comment by February 20, 2001 on issues, objectives, alternatives, areas of concern, probable significant impacts, and other aspects as you deem appropriate.
The underlying concept behind this scoping notice is to solicit input from interested individuals and entities who have perspectives on instream flow and management of flows in Washington State waters. We want to give all those interested the opportunity to put forth their views on this important subject.
Doug Rushton, Water Resources Program, Department of Ecology, PO Box 47600, Olympia, WA 98504- 7600; telephone: (360) 407-6513; Fax (360) 407-6574; email: [drus461@ecy.wa.gov].
Keith Phillips, Program Manager, Water Resources, Department of Ecology
All information relating to this proposal and supporting documents can be found on the Water Resources web page at: [http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wr/instream-flows/]. The Instream Flows: Non-Project Review Form for Environmental Analysis describes the issues, alternative approaches, a description of the environmental impacts, issues of concern and other topics. The Instream Flow Primer describes basic flow setting methods used in Washington, jurisdiction and authorities for setting flows and links to important documents describing in detail the various flow setting methods commonly used in Washington. The draft Instream Flow White Paper sets the context of Washington s flow management in the past, how it is currently done, and potential future direction.
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