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March 9th, 2005

COMMISSIONERS SCHEDULE PUBLIC MEETING TO DISCUSS SKAGIT RIVER INSTREAM FLOW RULE PROPOSED AMENDMENT

Rural property owners encouraged to attend

SKAGIT COUNTY – The Skagit County Board of Commissioners will hold a public meeting on Tuesday, March 15, 2005 beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the Skagit Valley College Cafeteria to discuss the proposed revised amendment to the Washington State Department of Ecology’s (DOE) Skagit River In-stream Flow Rule.

“Skagit County has been working for the past three years to have the Skagit In-stream Flow Rule amended by Ecology and fix the problem they created. We have some issues with the revised rule and want to make sure that the public is aware of these revisions,” said Commissioner Don Munks.

The Skagit County Commissioners have expressed concern about the scope of the proposed amendment and are encouraging the public to weigh in on the issue.

Last year, Thurston County Superior Court ordered the Washington State Department of Ecology to proceed with rule making to amend the Skagit River In-stream Flow Rule to address exempt well use in rural areas of Skagit County. Superior Court Judge Paula Casey decided to continue the trial date for Skagit County’s appeal of the Skagit River In-stream Flow Rule, on Friday, November 19, 2004. To amend the rule, Ecology must come forward with an amendment to address exempt well use in rural areas of Skagit County by February 16, 2005. Under the court’s ruling, an amendment must be effective by May 31, 2005.

In 1996, Ecology signed a Memorandum of Agreement with Skagit County, Skagit PUD, Anacortes the Sauk-Suiattle, Swinomish and Upper Skagit Indian tribes, and the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife, to protect instream aquatic resources while at the same time providing for an adequate, reliable water supply for Skagit County residents. Skagit County explicitly reserved the right to allow for development of exempt wells in the Upper Skagit watershed outside of the Skagit PUD’s current water service area. The parties made a commitment to provide for both in stream and out-of-stream water needs in the Skagit basin.

When Ecology published its instream flow rule in April 2001, it did not address water supply needs in rural areas of the County that do not have access to public water supply systems.
The revised amendment is available on line on the Washington State Department of Ecology website at http://www.ecy.wa.gov/ The public comment period for the amended rule ends March 18, 2005.

For further information, contact: Dan Berentson
Communications Director
360-419-3461