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Welcome to WRIA 17

The WRIA 17 Quilcene-Snow Watershed Planning Unit is a group of non-governmental and governmental organizations that have come together to create and agree to solutions to issues related to water on the North-east Olympic Peninsula. This effort has its basis in the Watershed Management Act passed as ESHB 2514 by the Legistlature in 1998, (now called the “Watershed Planning Act” - Chapter 90.82 RCW) which provided a framework for local citizens, interest groups, and government organizations to collaboratively identify and solve water-related issues in each of the 62 Water Resource Inventory Areas (WRIAs) of the state.   

The WRIA 17 watershed planning process is addressing water quantity, water quality, habitat, and instream flows in its comprehensive planning.   For any government or agency to be obligated under the plan, its representative must be at the table, and the agency must agree to the plan in a formal vote.

Instream Flow Rule Being Developed

January 30, 2009

The Department of Ecology is currently in the process of developing a Water Management Rule (an Instream Flow Rule) for WRIA 17. This rule will affect future allocations of water, including permit exempt wells in portions of Jefferson County. For more information about this rule please go here: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wr/instream-flows/quilsnowbasin.html