WAC 173-559-030
WAC 173-559-030. Establishment of base flows
RCW 90.54.020 requires that perennial rivers and streams shall be retained with base flows necessary to provide for preservation of wildlife, fish, scenic, aesthetic, and other environmental values and navigational values. Under this provision, base flows for stream management units of a basin are established which describe discharge rates at stream measurement stations in each unit. The following subsections, WAC 173-559-030 (1) through (4), establish these requirements for WRIA 59:
(1) In the Colville River basin, monitoring of base flows will take place at the following control points:
Table 1
Stream Management Units
Stream Management Unit and Control Station Number Control Station Location by River-Mile, and Section Township and Range Stream Management Reach Upper Colville River No. 12.4080.00 32.1 Sec. 31, T. 33 N., R. 40 E.W.M. Colville Riverfrom confluence with Stensgar Creek to confluence of Sheep Creek and Deer Creek. Lower Colville River No. 12.4090.00 5.0 Sec. 29, T. 36 N., R. 38 E.W.M. Colville River from confluence with Lake Roosevelt to confluence with Stensgar Creek.
Stream Management
Unit and Control
Station Number
Control Station Location
by River-Mile, and Section Township and Range
Stream
Management
Reach
Upper Colville River
No. 12.4080.00
32.1
Sec. 31, T. 33 N., R. 40 E.W.M.
Colville Riverfrom confluence with Stensgar Creek to confluence of Sheep Creek and Deer Creek.
Lower Colville River
No. 12.4090.00
5.0
Sec. 29, T. 36 N., R. 38 E.W.M.
Colville River from confluence with Lake Roosevelt to confluence with Stensgar Creek.
(2) In the Colville River basin, base flows for the stream management units in WAC 173-559-030(1) are set in Table 2 as follows:
Table 2
Base Flows in the Colville River basin
(in Cubic Feet Per Second)
Month Day Upper Colville (12.4080.00) Lower Colville (12.4090.00) Jan. 1 30 80 15 30 80 Feb. 1 30 80 15 38 100 Mar. 1 47 124 15 59 157 Apr. 1 76 200 15 76 200 May 1 49 200 15 32 135 Jun. 1 20 90 15 17 70 Jul. 1 15 55 15 13 43 Aug. 1 11 33 15 11 33 Sep. 1 14 40 15 18 49 Oct. 1 22 60 15 27 70 Nov. 1 35 84 15 43 100 Dec. 1 43 100 15 36 90
Month
Day
Upper
Colville
(12.4080.00)
Lower
Colville
(12.4090.00)
Jan.
1
30
80
15
30
80
Feb.
1
30
80
15
38
100
Mar.
1
47
124
15
59
157
Apr.
1
76
200
15
76
200
May
1
49
200
15
32
135
Jun.
1
20
90
15
17
70
Jul.
1
15
55
15
13
43
Aug.
1
11
33
15
11
33
Sep.
1
14
40
15
18
49
Oct.
1
22
60
15
27
70
Nov.
1
35
84
15
43
100
Dec.
1
43
100
15
36
90
(3) Figure 1, base flow hydrographs for selected stations, shall be used to define base flows on those days not identified in WAC 173-559-030(2).
(4) All surface water rights, established by appropriation in the Upper Colville and Lower Colville stream management units after adoption of this regulation, shall be subject to the base flows set in WAC 173-559-030 (1) through (3). However, these base flows will not apply to in-house domestic use and stock watering use, if an alternate source is not available to satisfy these uses. If the cumulative impact of numerous single in-house domestic use diversions is determined to substantially affect a stream's base flow or existing rights, then new permits for this use may be denied.
Figure 1
base flow hydrograph for selected stations