WAC 173-528-060. Establishment of instream flows

(1) The instream flows established in this chapter are based on the recommendations of the planning unit; consultation with the department of fish and wildlife, department of agriculture, and department of community, trade, and economic development; and public input received during the rule-making process. The planning unit recommended these instream flow levels by unanimous vote. (2) Instream flows established in this chapter are water rights, which protect instream values and functions from future appropriations. The priority date of the instream flows is the effective date of this chapter. In accordance with RCW 90.82.080 , this priority date received unanimous approval from the planning unit. (3) Instream flow rights shall be protected from impairment by any new water rights commenced after the effective date of this chapter and by all future changes and transfers of senior and junior water rights, including both surface and groundwater rights. The following water rights are not subject to the instream flows: (a) A water right put to beneficial use before the effective date of this chapter, unless stated in the conditions of the water right or change authorization. (b) Water rights appropriated from the reservation of water established in WAC 173-528-110 . (c) Water rights for environmental restoration purposes under WAC 173-528-140 , unless included as a permit condition. (4) Instream flows, expressed in cubic feet per second (cfs), are measured at the stream management control points in WAC 173-528-050 . Instream flows apply to all stream reaches that contribute to flow at stream management control points, as shown in Table II of this section. For reaches that are downstream of all management points, the flows established for the nearest upstream management control point shall apply to those reaches. However, if a point of withdrawal is downstream of the confluence of two or more branches, each having a designated management point, the combined flows of the management points shall apply to that withdrawal. Table II Instream Flows in the Salmon/Washougal Basin (cubic feet per second) Month Stream Management Control Point Whipple Creek, RM 2.7 Mill Creek, RM 0.02 Weaver Creek, RM 0.04 Morgan Creek, RM 1.8 Rock Creek, RM 0.3 Burnt Bridge Creek, RM 3.0 Lower Lacamas Creek, RM 0.4 January 28 27 12 17 36 20 112 February 51 50 23 33 63 38 112 March 51 50 23 33 63 38 96 April 51 50 23 33 63 38 96 May 51 50 23 33 63 38 96 June 34 33 15 22 42 25 64 July 34 33 15 22 42 25 64 August 12 11 4 7 15 8 27 September 12 11 4 7 15 8 112 October 28 27 12 17 36 20 112 November 28 27 12 17 36 20 112 December 28 27 12 17 36 20 112 Month Stream Management Control Point Whipple Creek, RM 2.7 Mill Creek, RM 0.02 Weaver Creek, RM 0.04 Morgan Creek, RM 1.8 Rock Creek, RM 0.3 Burnt Bridge Creek, RM 3.0 Lower Lacamas Creek, RM 0.4 January 28 27 12 17 36 20 112 February 51 50 23 33 63 38 112 March 51 50 23 33 63 38 96 April 51 50 23 33 63 38 96 May 51 50 23 33 63 38 96 June 34 33 15 22 42 25 64 July 34 33 15 22 42 25 64 August 12 11 4 7 15 8 27 September 12 11 4 7 15 8 112 October 28 27 12 17 36 20 112 November 28 27 12 17 36 20 112 December 28 27 12 17 36 20 112 Month Stream Management Control Point Upper Lacamas Creek, RM 5.5 Washougal River, RM 3.6 Little Washougal River, RM 0.02 W.F. Washougal River, RM 0.8 Gibbons Creek, RM 1.6 Lawton Creek, RM 0.45 Duncan Creek, RM 0.3 January 39 425 193 205 27 24 21 February 39 425 193 205 49 44 39 March 39 375 160 169 49 44 39 April 39 375 160 169 49 44 39 May 39 375 160 169 49 44 39 June 39 525 107 112 33 29 26 July 39 240 107 112 33 29 26 August 39 168 48 51 11 10 8 September 39 264/425* 193 205 11 10 8 October 39 425 193 205 27 24 21 November 39 425 193 205 27 24 21 December 39 425 193 205 27 24 21 *The Washougal River, RM 3.6, instream flow right is for 264 cubic feet per second from September 1 to September 15, and 425 cubic feet per second from September 16 to September 30. Month Stream Management Control Point Upper Lacamas Creek, RM 5.5 Washougal River, RM 3.6 Little Washougal River, RM 0.02 W.F. Washougal River, RM 0.8 Gibbons Creek, RM 1.6 Lawton Creek, RM 0.45 Duncan Creek, RM 0.3 January 39 425 193 205 27 24 21 February 39 425 193 205 49 44 39 March 39 375 160 169 49 44 39 April 39 375 160 169 49 44 39 May 39 375 160 169 49 44 39 June 39 525 107 112 33 29 26 July 39 240 107 112 33 29 26 August 39 168 48 51 11 10 8 September 39 264/425* 193 205 11 10 8 October 39 425 193 205 27 24 21 November 39 425 193 205 27 24 21 December 39 425 193 205 27 24 21 *The Washougal River, RM 3.6, instream flow right is for 264 cubic feet per second from September 1 to September 15, and 425 cubic feet per second from September 16 to September 30. Month Stream Management Control Point Woodward Creek, RM 0.25 Hardy Creek, RM 1.6 Hamilton Creek, RM 1.3 Greenleaf Creek, RM 0.3 January 42 40 72 31 February 72 69 117 55 March 72 69 117 55 April 72 69 117 55 May 72 69 117 55 June 48 46 78 37 July 48 46 78 37 August 18 17 33 13 September 18 17 33 13 October 42 40 72 31 November 42 40 72 31 December 42 40 72 31 Month Stream Management Control Point Woodward Creek, RM 0.25 Hardy Creek, RM 1.6 Hamilton Creek, RM 1.3 Greenleaf Creek, RM 0.3 January 42 40 72 31 February 72 69 117 55 March 72 69 117 55 April 72 69 117 55 May 72 69 117 55 June 48 46 78 37 July 48 46 78 37 August 18 17 33 13 September 18 17 33 13 October 42 40 72 31 November 42 40 72 31 December 42 40 72 31