Instream Resources Protection Program
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W.W.I.R.P.P. SERIES-NO. 5 INSTREAM RESOURCES PROTECTION PROGRAM KITSAP WATER RESOURCE INVENTORY AREA (WRIA) 15 Including PROPOSED ADMINISTRATIVE RULES STATE OF WASHINGTON DEPARTMENT OF ECOLOGY JUNE 1981 INSTREAM RESOURCES PROTECTION PROGRAM KITSAP WATER RESOURCE INVENTORY AREA (WRIA) 15 including PROPOSED ADMINISTRATIVE RULES Prepared by Water Resources Policy Development Section Washington State Department of Ecology Project Planner, Jeanne Holloman (206) 753-6189 Washington State Department of Printing Olympia, Washington June 1981 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page INTRODUCTION........................................................................................................................ 1 SUMMARY ................................................................................................................................. 4 PROGRAM AREA DESCRIPTION ......................................................................................... 12 WATER RESOURCES ............................................................................................................. 14 Streams and Lakes.......................................................................................................... 14 Ground Waters ............................................................................................................... 22 WATER USE..................................................................................................................... ........ 24 INSTREAM USES............................................................................................................ 24 Recreation....................................................................................................................... 24 Fish................................................................................................................................. 24 Wildlife Utilization ........................................................................................................ 25 Aesthetic and Environmental Values ............................................................................. 26 OUT-OF-STREAM USES................................................................................................ 26 Irrigation......................................................................................................................... 26 Domestic and Municipal ................................................................................................ 26 WATER AVAILABILITY ........................................................................................................ 28 Kitsap County................................................................................................................. 28 Mason County ................................................................................................................ 31 Pierce County ................................................................................................................. 31 King County................................................................................................................... 32 WATER QUALITY...................................................................................................................32 CURRENT ADMINISTRATIVE STATUS.............................................................................. 33 PROPOSED ADMINISTRATIVE STATUS ............................................................................ 33 INSTREAM FLOW HYDROGRAPHS .................................................................................... 35 DEFINITIONS........................................................................................................................... 40 BIBLIOGRAPHY ...................................................................................................................... 43 DISTRIBUTION LIST .............................................................................................................. 46 LIST OF FIGURES AND PLATES Figure Page 1 Location Map of the Kitsap Water Resource Inventory Area (WRIA) 15 .............................................................................................. 3 Plate 1 Surface Water Map of the Kitsap Peninsula and Back Certain Adjacent Islands (Adapted from Garling- Cover Molenaar, 1965) ................................................................................................................. LIST OF TABLES Table Page 1 Current Administrative Status and Proposed Status of certain Streams and Lakes in the Kitsap Water Resource Inventory Area (WRIA) 15 ........................................................ 7 2 Population Projections for those portions of Kitsap, King, Mason, and Pierce Counties within the Kitsap Water Resource Inventory Area (WRIA) 15............................................................................................................. 13 3 Major Water Suppliers ................................................................................................... 27 APPENDICES A. PROPOSED RULES B. SUMMARY OF STREAMS AND LAKES IN THE KITSAP BASIN C. PART I: SUMMARY OF PUBLIC HEARING TESTIMONY PART II: LETTERS OF PUBLIC COMMENT D. RESPONSES TO PUBLIC COMMENTS INTRODUCTION WESTERN WASHINGTON INSTREAM RESOURCES PROTECTION PROGRAM The Western Washington Instream Resources Protection Program (WWIRPP) was initiated by the Washington Department of Ecology (WDOE) in September 1978. The program was designed to develop and adopt instream resource protection measures for Water Resource Inventory Areas (WRIA) in Western Washington as authorized in the Water Resources Act of 1971 (90.54 RCW), Minimum Water Flows and Levels Act (90.22 RCW), and in accordance with the Water Resources Management Program (173-500 WAC). Prior to 1969 statutory authority relating to the protection of instream flows was provided by the State Fisheries Code (Chapter 75.20 RCW). Provisions were made under the Fisheries code for the supervisor of hydraulics (WDOE) to refuse issuance of any permit to divert water from a stream if, in the opinion of either director of Fisheries or Game, the permit might result in lowering streamflow below that necessary to adequately support food and game fish populations. At the start of the Western Washington Instream Resources Protection Program, there were approximately 250 streams in the state with low flow limitations and 250 closed to additional appropriations under the provisions of Chapter 75.20 RCW. The Western Washington Instream Resources Protection Program evaluates the surface water source limitations previously established administratively by the Department of Ecology under the State Fisheries Code process, and sets forth additional streams and lakes to be closed to future consumptive appropriations. The program will further establish instream flows for streams that still have water available for consumptive appropriation. THE INSTREAM RESOURCES PROTECTION PROGRAM DOES NOT AFFECT EXISTING WATER RIGHTS. KITSAP INSTREAM RESOURCES PROTECTION PROGRAM The administrative rules proposed for the Kitsap Instream Resources Protection Program represent the first phase in the development of the state's Water Resource Management Program for that Water Resource Inventory Area (WRIA) 15. Establishment of instream flows and closure of certain streams during low flow, high stress periods will help to provide sufficient water for food and game fish, wildlife food supply and habitat, recreation, water quality, and protection of other environmental and aesthetic values. Environmental Impact Statement Environmental impact statement requirements have been met in the overall Western Washington Instream Resources Protection Program Final Environmental Impact Statement (distributed June 1979). A basin specific supplemental environmental impact statement, therefore, is not required. 1 Public Involvement The Department of Ecology (WDOE) conducted meetings in January 1980 to inform the major water users and other interested parties in Water Resource Inventory Area 15 of the Kitsap Instream Resources Protection Program. These included the Suquamish Indian Tribe, the Point No Point Treaty Council representing the Skokomish Tribe, and the Port Gamble and lower Elwha Klallam Tribes, small domestic water suppliers, water districts, municipal and industrial water suppliers, U.S. Navy water supply representatives from the Bangor, Keyport, and Bremerton facilities, and the state departments of Fisheries and Game. During the seven months from January to August 1980, the department held six instream flow workshops and two meetings to determine legal criteria for the program. A draft program document was distributed for public review in December 1980. On January 7 and 8, 1981 public hearings were held in Belfair (Mason County), Bremerton (Kitsap County), Vashon (King County), and Gig Harbor (Pierce County) to receive public testimony in the Kitsap Instream Resources Protection Program. Because of the significant number and substance of the oral comments and written statements received at the public hearings and during the two months review period, the adoption proceeding originally scheduled for April 8, was continued to June 8, 1981. The department later found that in order to fully consider the views of the public, .a second continuance would be necessary. The newly scheduled adoption proceeding will be held at 2:00 p.m., July 10, 1981 at the Department of Ecology hearings room located in Rowesix Building No. 4, 4224 Sixth Avenue S.E., Lacey,