Information

Type: Deliberation

Department: CD - Community Development

Directors' Update: TBD

Business Meeting: April 13, 2021

Summary:

A Resolution approving the Deschutes Basin Watershed Management Plan in response to the 2018 Streamflow Restoration Action (RCW 90.94).

Publications: n/a

Cover Letter To:

Additional Copies To: Lee Napier

Resolution

WHEREAS, the Board of Lewis County Commissioners (BoCC) supports collaboration with communities within the Deschutes Watershed to implement a comprehensive strategy for balancing competing demands for water; and

WHEREAS, Lewis County is required to plan under the Growth Management Act (RCW 36.70A), and its Comprehensive Plan must include a plan to “provide for the protection of the quality and quantity of groundwater used for public supplies” (RCW 36.70A.070); and

WHEREAS, the Washington State Watershed Management Act (RCW 90.82) established a framework for water resource management in the State of Washington focusing on water availability and quality, and protecting habitat for fish and wildlife; and established the boundary of Water Resource Inventory Area 13 (WRIA 13) for the Deschutes Basin Watershed; and

WHEREAS, Lewis County was one of the Initiating Governments of the Chehalis Basin Planning Unit, known as the Chehalis Basin Partnership, and participated in the development of the 2004 Chehalis Basin Watershed Management Plan; and

WHEREAS, on January 18, 2018, the Washington State Legislature passed Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill (ESSB 6091), an act addressing procedures for ensuring water is available to support development in response to the Washington State Supreme Court case Whatcom v. Hirst; and

WHEREAS, ESSB 6091 was codified as the Streamflow Restoration Act, RCW 90.94; and

WHEREAS, RCW 90.94.020 directed the Washington State Department of Ecology as the agency for the planning process to work with a Watershed Restoration and Enhancement Committee (WREC) consisting of representatives from WRIA 13, to identify the potential impacts of exempt well use, identify evidence-based conservation measures, and identify projects to improve watershed health with a deadline of June 30, 2021, whereby the Department of Ecology must adopt said watershed plan amendment; and

WHEREAS, the WREC consisted of representatives from county and city governments, special use districts, the Squaxin Island Tribe, and special interest groups; and

WHEREAS, the WREC met regularly and created several subgroups to develop a Watershed Restoration and Enhancement Plan that addresses the requirements of RCW 90.94; and

WHEREAS, the WREC intends to approve the Watershed Restoration and Enhancement Plan to address the requirements of RCW 90.94 on or soon after April 21, 2021; and

WHEREAS, the Washington State Department of Ecology in their role as Lead Agency will conduct the environmental review for the Watershed Restoration and Enhancement Plan as required under the State Environmental Policy Act; and

WHEREAS, the BoCC finds that the strategies identified in the plan, if adequately funded and implemented, will be sufficient to offset the impacts of future projected growth in the rural area of the Deschutes Basin on streamflows, and further will support the recovery of endangered salmon species and overall ecosystem health while allowing options for future rural development.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED the Lewis County Board of Commissioners approves the Watershed Restoration and Enhancement Plan for the Deschutes Watershed as shown in Exhibit A attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference; and

NOW THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED if any section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase or other portion of this Resolution or its application to any person is, for any reason, declared invalid, illegal or unconstitutional in whole or in part by any court or agency of competent jurisdiction, said decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions hereof.

DONE IN OPEN SESSION this 13th day of April, 2021.