EcoForum

IDEAS TO BECOME MORE EFFICIENT AND COST EFFECTIVE

Dept of Ecology — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 15:47:03 +0000

A R C H I V E

August – October 2010

(10/13/2010) Please note: Feedback is no longer being accepted for this question. Thank you to all that participated. The responses we received are available below. You can also continue to provide comments or contact us at forum@ecy.wa.gov.

October 4 – October 12

THE ISSUE

The mission of Ecology’s Water Resources Program is to support sustainable water resources management to meet the present and future water needs of people and the natural environment, in partnership with Washington communities.

In the past five weeks, the Water Smart Washington Online Forum has taken comments on water management issues such as shifting more of the costs of processing water right applications and other services of the Water Resources Program from the taxpayers of Washington state to those who benefit directly from those services, to giving Ecology better tools to integrate permit-exempt groundwater withdrawals with overall water management.

The final Forum question is seeking ideas on how the Water Resources Program can become more efficient and/or cost effective in delivering any or all of its ten distinct, statutorily required services. Those services are:

Clarifying water rights through court adjudication,
Setting instream flows,
Ensuring dam safety,
Managing water rights,
Preparing and responding to drought,
Ensuring compliance with water laws,
Providing water resources data and information,
Regulating well construction,
Working with local groups, tribes and other agencies to develop and implement watershed plans,
Supporting water use efficiency.

For detailed background and description of these 10 Water Resources Program services, see Appendix A in Ecology’s 2010 Report to the Legislature on water management reform. This appendix provides a description of these ten activities, including current funding and fee structures, as well as potential funding and fee options.

YOUR FEEDBACK

In your comments, please answer the following question:

Q6) Based upon the information provided in Appendix A of the 2010 Report to the Legislature and Governor how can Ecology’s Water Resources Program be more efficient and/or cost-effective in managing the water resources of Washington state to meet the present and future water needs of people and the natural environment?

GROUNDWATER PERMIT EXEMPTION

Dept of Ecology — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 17:14:33 +0000

A R C H I V E

August – October 2010

(10/04/2010) Please note: Feedback is no longer being accepted for this question. Thank you to all that participated. The responses we received are available below. You can also continue to provide comments or contact us at forum@ecy.wa.gov.

September 27 – October 3

THE ISSUE

The “permit-exempt” well provision of Washington state’s 1945 Groundwater Code was also known as the homestead exemption because it allowed a rural homeowner to dig a water well for personal use without obtaining a water right permit, provided the homeowner limited water use to 5,000 gallons per day (gpd) for in-house use and a sufficient amount for a half acre lawn and garden.

While these wells have supported rural development and housing for decades in many parts of the state, they have contributed to a depletion of the groundwater in those watersheds where rapid population growth is occurring.

Typical rural water use ranges from 200 to 500 gpd for in-house use but because Ecology has no authority to reduce the 5,000 gpd limit, the agency has only one tool to reduce the proliferation of permit-exempt wells in water short basins: close the entire basin to new groundwater withdrawals.

Learn more >> Groundwater Permit Exemption

YOUR FEEDBACK

In your comments, please answer the following question:

Q5) Should Ecology have rule-making authority through amendment to the Groundwater Code to reduce the volume of water that can be withdrawn under the permit exemption in those watersheds where available waters are close to exhaustion?)

WATER BUDGETS – SUPPLY AND DEMAND PROJECTING

Dept of Ecology — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 15:36:05 +0000

A R C H I V E

August – October 2010

(09/27/2010) Please note: Feedback is no longer being accepted for this question. Thank you to all that participated. The responses we received are available below. You can also continue to provide comments or contact us at forum@ecy.wa.gov.

September 20 – September 26

THE ISSUE

The state’s Office of Financial Management estimates that the state’s population will grow by about 1.7 million people in the next 20 years. In order to determine how much water this growing population will need and where in the state the water will be needed, the Department of Ecology needs to gather and analyze data about water supply and demand trends. This is called “supply and demand projecting.”
>> Learn more about Long-Term Forecasts of Washington Population and Net Migration
>> Learn more about Water Use Trends in Washington 1985–2005
>> Learn more about Washington’s Water Supply

YOUR FEEDBACK

In your comments, please answer the following question:

Q4) Should Washington state make investments in ‘water supply and demand projecting’ to not only determine how much water will be needed for population growth, but also for economic growth and fish habitat?

> > Scroll down to read all responses.

Water Smart Washington – Washington State Water Management Reform

Dept of Ecology — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 22:00:14 +0000

A R C H I V E

August – October 2010

Please note: The Water Smart Washington Online Forum ended on October 12, 2010. Thank you to all that participated. All comments received during this forum will be included in a report supplement to the Legislature and Governor. When completed, a link to the supplement will be posted on the Water Smart Washington – Washington State Water Management Reform web page.

THE REPORT

The Washington Department of Ecology is working to reform its water management practices to meet increasing demands for water in a time of limited new water supplies.

Ecology has put its recommendations for improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the Water Resources Program in a report to the Legislature and the Governor: “Water Resources Program Functions and Funding Structure-Recommendations for a Sustainable and Efficient Program.”

The Water Resources Program’s ongoing mission is to work with Washington communities in support of sustainable water resources management to meet the present and future water needs of people and the natural environment.

Efforts to fulfill the mission have been handicapped in recent years by inconsistent funding resulting from dependence on the State General Fund and the need to update 19th century-based water laws which are inadequate to meet 21st Century challenges.

The report makes recommendations to the Legislature for improving the funding of water resources management and making the Water Resources Program more efficient in the delivery of ten basic services.

Department of Ecology News Release – September 17, 2010 New Ecology report recommends active water management to reduce reliance on taxpayer funding; ensure adequate water

YOUR FEEDBACK

Comments and Feedback

Ecology distributed this report to stakeholders and interested parties in order to receive comments and feedback to further inform and guide our program as we prepare for the upcoming legislative session.

Ecology will continue to accept comments on the report through the end of the year, to further inform and guide our program as we prepare for the upcoming legislative session.

We encourage you to provide us with comments and feedback within this timeframe.

Please provide any comments and feedback that you have on the Report.

> > Tell us what you think by leaving a new response at the bottom of this page. If you want to reply to a posted response use the Reply at the end of each response. You can also:

Provide your comments with attachements via e-mail to Barbara.Anderson@ecy.wa.gov

FEES – SERVICES

Dept of Ecology — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 16:33:11 +0000

A R C H I V E

August – October 2010

(09/23/2010) Please note: Feedback is no longer being accepted for this question. Thank you to all that participated. The responses we received are available below. You can also continue to provide comments or contact us at forum@ecy.wa.gov.

September 13 – September 19

THE ISSUE

The Water Resources Program at the Department of Ecology works to protect and manage the water resources of the state of Washington by providing a host of services such as:

The processing of water right applications,
Monitoring surface and groundwater use to assure water availability for people, farms and fish,
Ensuring compliance with permit conditions, laws and rules,
Collecting and storing water related information,
Developing policies and procedures, providing technical assistance to the public,
Supporting watershed planning, and
Regulating water well drilling.

About 85 percent of the work of the program is currently funded through taxpayer revenue.

>> Learn more about Water Rights in Washington
>> Learn more about General Fund budget cuts reduce processing of water right applications statewide

YOUR FEEDBACK

In your comments, please answer the following question:

Q3) Should those who benefit from the management services provided by the Water Resources Program be required to pay a higher portion of those costs?

>> Scroll down to read all responses.

FEES – APPLICATION PROCESSING

Dept of Ecology — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 22:35:55 +0000

A R C H I V E

August – October 2010

(09/15/2010) Please note: Feedback is no longer being accepted for this question. Thank you to all that participated. The responses we received are available below. You can also continue to provide comments or contact us at forum@ecy.wa.gov.

September 6 – September 12

THE ISSUE

Most water uses in Washington State require a water right. If you live in or near a city, chances are you get your water through the water rights held by your municipal water system or public utility district but a change in how a water right is used, or acquiring a new water right for typical uses like a supply for multiple households, irrigation or commercial use, requires an application to the Department of Ecology.

Currently state taxpayers pay for more than 98 percent of the cost of processing water right applications with the cost of processing averaging about $10,000 per application.

>> Learn more about Water Rights in Washington
>> Learn more about General Fund budget cuts reduce processing of water right applications statewide

YOUR FEEDBACK

In your comments, please answer the following question:

Q2) Should the taxpayers of Washington, through the State General Fund, continue to pay for water right application processing or should those who want to use the water of Washington pay a larger portion, even the full cost, of processing their water applications?

> > Scroll down to read all responses.

WATERSHED PLAN IMPLEMENTATION

Dept of Ecology — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 22:37:09 +0000

A R C H I V E

August – October 2010

(09/08/2010) Please note: Feedback is no longer being accepted for this question. Thank you to all that participated. The responses we received are available below. You can also continue to provide comments or contact us at forum@ecy.wa.gov.

August 30 – September 5

THE ISSUE

A watershed or basin is all the land that drains to the same body of water, such as a lake or river. The Watershed Planning Act (WPA) of 1998 provided ten years of grants for local citizens groups and lead agencies to develop and implement watershed plans in partnership with the Washington Department of Ecology.

These plans provide water and land use managers with long term blueprints to protect existing water rights and with better information to make water right decisions.

Plans have been completed that cover all or parts of 37 out of 62 watersheds in Washington. However, without additional state money provided to local governments through an amendment of the WPA, full-scale implementation of many watershed plans will be difficult at best for cash-strapped local governments and improved watershed management will be delayed in these basins.

> > Learn more about the Watershed Planning Act.

YOUR FEEDBACK

Q1) Should the Watershed Planning Act be amended to give watershed groups and their sponsoring lead agencies an additional four years of financial support to continue the implementation of locally adopted watershed plans?

Water Smart Washington – Archived Questions and Comments

Dept of Ecology — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 17:00:08 +0000

A R C H I V E

August – October 2010

Please note: The Water Smart Washington Online Forum ended on October 12, 2010. We are no longer taking comments. Thank you to all that participated. All comments received during this forum will be included in a report supplement to the Legislature and Governor. When completed, a link to the supplement will be posted on the Water Smart Washington – Washington State Water Management Reform web page.

Archive of All Questions

Watershed Plan Implementation:
Week of August 30 - September 5	1) Should the Watershed Planning Act be amended to give watershed groups and their sponsoring lead agencies an additional four years of financial support to continue the implementation of locally adopted watershed plans? Archive of responses to this question
Fees:
Week of September 6 – 12	2) Should the taxpayers of Washington, through the State General Fund, continue to pay for water right application processing or should those who want to use the water of Washington pay a larger portion, even the full cost, of processing their water applications? Archive of responses to this question
Week of September 13 -19	3) Should those who benefit from the management services provided by the Water Resources Program be required to pay a higher portion of those costs? Archive of responses to this question
Water Budget:
Week of September 20 – 26	4) Should Washington state make investments in ‘water supply and demand projecting’ to not only determine how much water will be needed for population growth, but also for economic growth and fish habitat? Archive of responses to this question
Comment on the 6267 Report:
September 17 – 28	4) 2010 Report to the Legislature and Governor: Water Resources Program Functions and Funding Structure – Recommendations for a sustainable and Efficient Program. Responses to this request for comments
Groundwater Permit Exemption:
Week of September 27 - October 3	5) Should Ecology have rule-making authority through amendment to the Groundwater Code to reduce the volume of water that can be withdrawn under the permit exemption in those watersheds where available waters are close to exhaustion? Archive of responses to this question
Ideas on how the Water Resources Program can become more efficient and cost effective
Week of October 4 – 12	6) Based upon the information provided in Appendix A of the 2010 Report to the Legislature and Governor, how can Ecology’s Water Resources Program be more efficient and/or cost-effective in managing the water resources of Washington state to meet the present and future water needs of people and the natural environment? Archive of responses to this question

Water Smart Washington – Participate!

Dept of Ecology — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 16:41:27 +0000

A R C H I V E

August – October 2010

> Go to the List of the Questions to view the comments that were made

Water Smart Washington

Dept of Ecology — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 16:37:41 +0000

A R C H I V E

August – October 2010

Welcome to the Washington State Department of Ecology’s online public forum on the protection and management of your water resources. Please watch the video below for an introduction to this forum.

You may not realize that the water resources of our state are owned in common by the people of Washington. Water is also a finite resource. Our world contains the same amount of water today as when it was first formed on Earth.

Ideas needed on reforming water management

Ecology is authorized by the state Legislature to protect the waters of Washington but we need your ideas on how we can reform the way we do business. Population growth is increasing the demand for water at the same time supply is shrinking in some areas of the state. On the horizon, climate change threatens to reduce our water supplies even further. Yet many of our “tools” to manage 21st Century water problems date back to 19th Century water law.

> Go to the List of the Questions to view the comments that were made