WAC 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) Month Day 12-4570.00 Wenatchee R. at Plain 12-4585.00 Icicle Cr. near Leavenworth 12-4590.00 Wenatchee R. at Peshastin ECY 45J070 Nason Cr. near Mouth Jan 1 550 267 1933 120 15 550 267 1933 120 Feb 1 550 267 1933 120 15 550 566 2800 160 Mar 1 550 518 2800 160 15 700 518 2800 160 Apr 1 910 650 2800 160 15 1150 650 2800 160 May 1 1500 650 2800 160 15 2000 650 2800 160 Jun 1 2500 650 2800 160 15 2000 550 1933 210 Jul 1 1500 550 1933 210 15 1200 550 1933 210 Aug 1 880 400 1933 180 15 700 343 1400 180 Sep 1 660 275 1311 165 15 620 275 1311 165 Oct 1 580 267 1932 120 15 520 267 2672 120 Nov 1 550 267 2900 120 15 550 267 2900 120 Dec 1 550 267 1933 120 15 550 267 1933 120 Month Day 12-4570.00 Wenatchee R. at Plain 12-4585.00 Icicle Cr. near Leavenworth 12-4590.00 Wenatchee R. at Peshastin ECY 45J070 Nason Cr. near Mouth Jan 1 550 267 1933 120 15 550 267 1933 120 Feb 1 550 267 1933 120 15 550 566 2800 160 Mar 1 550 518 2800 160 15 700 518 2800 160 Apr 1 910 650 2800 160 15 1150 650 2800 160 May 1 1500 650 2800 160 15 2000 650 2800 160 Jun 1 2500 650 2800 160 15 2000 550 1933 210 Jul 1 1500 550 1933 210 15 1200 550 1933 210 Aug 1 880 400 1933 180 15 700 343 1400 180 Sep 1 660 275 1311 165 15 620 275 1311 165 Oct 1 580 267 1932 120 15 520 267 2672 120 Nov 1 550 267 2900 120 15 550 267 2900 120 Dec 1 550 267 1933 120 15 550 267 1933 120 Instream Flows in the Wenatchee River Basin (cont'd) (instantaneous cubic feet per second) Month Day 12-4625.00 Wenatchee R. at Monitor ECY 45F070 Peshastin Cr. at Green Bridge Rd. Chumstick Cr. at North Road Jan 1 1867 53 To be determined (tbd) 15 1867 53 Feb 1 1867 53 tbd 15 2400 120 Mar 1 2400 120 tbd 15 2400 120 Apr 1 2400 120 tbd 15 2400 120 May 1 2400 120 tbd 15 2400 120 Jun 1 2400 120 tbd 15 1600 110 Jul 1 1600 110 tbd 15 1600 110 Aug 1 1600 80 tbd 15 900 80 Sep 1 900 80 tbd 15 1338 80 Oct 1 1723 53 tbd 15 2427 53 Nov 1 2800 53 tbd 15 2800 53 Dec 1 1867 53 tbd 15 1867 53 Month Day 12-4625.00 Wenatchee R. at Monitor ECY 45F070 Peshastin Cr. at Green Bridge Rd. Chumstick Cr. at North Road Jan 1 1867 53 To be determined (tbd) 15 1867 53 Feb 1 1867 53 tbd 15 2400 120 Mar 1 2400 120 tbd 15 2400 120 Apr 1 2400 120 tbd 15 2400 120 May 1 2400 120 tbd 15 2400 120 Jun 1 2400 120 tbd 15 1600 110 Jul 1 1600 110 tbd 15 1600 110 Aug 1 1600 80 tbd 15 900 80 Sep 1 900 80 tbd 15 1338 80 Oct 1 1723 53 tbd 15 2427 53 Nov 1 2800 53 tbd 15 2800 53 Dec 1 1867 53 tbd 15 1867 53 (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.