FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - June 27, 2002
Ecology Department readies more water-measuring orders and assistance offers
OLYMPIA - More than 300 water-right holders in basins where fish runs are the most threatened will soon receive orders requiring them to install water-measuring devices and regularly report their water use to the state.
The orders are being issued by the Department of Ecology (Ecology) under a 2001 court order issued by the Thurston Co. Superior Court. The order came after several environmental and fishing groups sued Ecology, alleging the agency was not complying with a 1993 law requiring those who use significant amounts of water to put in measuring devices and report their water use to the department.
To help cover the cost of the new requirements, the state legislature has provided $3.4 million in grant money that Ecology can issue to help water users comply with the orders. Eligible candidates can receive up to $50,000 to purchase, install and calibrate new water-measuring devices.
In late March, the department sent water-measuring orders to about 250 farms, irrigation districts, municipalities and other users operating in 16 "fish-critical" basins. Those water users already measure their water use as a condition of their existing water rights. The most noteworthy change for them is the requirement to submit periodic water-use reports to Ecology.
"This next set of orders is going to water users who have not had to measure or report their water use before," said Joe Stohr, who supervises Ecology's water-resources program. "That's why is it so important to have funding available to help people comply with the law. By receiving information about water use, we can improve how we manage this diminishing resource and do a better job protecting the rights of businesses, communities and people who are legally entitled to use water."
In July, 313 orders are going out to water-right holders in 11 of the 16 targeted basins. The water rights represent about 80 percent of the water used in those basins:
A third round of orders is slated to go out in late September. By Dec. 31, the department will have sent orders to about 1,000 farms, irrigation districts, municipalities and other operations.
All affected water-right holders operating in the Cedar-Sammamish and Duwamish-Green watersheds received their orders in March. Water-measuring orders have yet to be sent out to water users in the Lower Yakima, Upper Yakima and Naches basins due to ongoing water-right adjudications.
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