Water is a precious and limited resource
The Department of Ecology’s water resources program is preparing for the Nooksack adjudication. Adjudication will help us understand where water is used so we can address increasing water demands while protecting limited instream resources and adapting to climate change.
Water is protected in stream by rule (WAC 173-501) to help maintain healthy ecosystems that support the natural environment and activities like commercial and recreational fishing.
Do you use water from WRIA 1? Find out by entering your address at the Statewide WRIA Finder tool.
What to expect in 2024
In spring 2024, we will send out forms to everyone in our records who may claim the right to use water directly from a source other than a public water supply. The forms will be sent by certified mail. You will need to complete the form and send it back to us to protect your water use in the future, whether you have a water right document or rely on a groundwater permit exemption. If you don’t receive a form by certified mail but believe you have a water right or claim, please contact us.
In the following years, the Whatcom County Superior Court will review the forms and inventory all legal water rights. The adjudication process will determine whether each water right on a source is legal, how much water can be used, and its priority during shortages. Ecology will issue adjudicated certificates for all these uses, including permit-exempt uses like stockwater and homes on wells.
Water rights defined
Listen to Mike Gallagher from Ecology’s Water Resources Program explain “What is a Water Right?” in this podcast episode: water-law-101-episode-1
A water right is a legal right to use a certain amount of public water for a beneficial purpose during a certain period of time. Each water right has specific conditions and terms that also includes:
- Where you can take water.
- The rate at which you can take water, and
- Where you can use it.
A surface water right is the right to divert water from a river, stream, lake, or spring. A groundwater right is a right to take water from aquifers below the ground that is withdrawn by way of a well.
Beneficial uses include domestic and municipal, irrigation for agriculture and farming, stock watering, industrial and commercial, recreation, and power generation.
Find out if you have a water right
One of the ways you can get ready for adjudication is to find out if we have a record of your water right. The fastest and easiest way to do that is to call or email us. Leave a message at 360-255-4406 or email WRadjudications@ecy.wa.gov. Make sure to include your name, the address of your water usage, and an email or phone number for us to contact you. You can also use the Water Rights Search database.
Help is on the way
Do you have questions about adjudication? Are you curious to know what’s in a claim form? We are creating tools and resources so that everyone has clear direction and helpful information. We'll share these with you over the upcoming months.
We want to be your first and best source of information about WRIA 1 water adjudication. Visit our website for the most current updates.
If you have difficulty understanding English or have a disability, free language assistance or other aids and services are available upon request. Please call 564-233-1879.
Si tiene dificultades para entender la lengua inglesa o presenta una discapacidad, puede solicitar asistencia lingüística y otros tipos de ayuda y servicios sin coste alguno. Llame al siguiente número de teléfono 564-233-1879.
Если у вас есть трудности с пониманием английского языка или у вас инвалидность, по запросу предоставляется бесплатная языковая помощь или другие вспомогательные средства и услуги. Пожалуйста позвоните по телефону 564-233-1879.
ਜੇਕਰ ਤੁਹਾਨੂੰ ਅੰਗਰੇਜ਼ੀ ਸਮਝਣ ਵਿੱਚ ਔਖਿਆਈ ਹੁੰਦੀ ਹੈ ਜਾਂ ਫਿਰ ਤੁਸੀਂ ਅਪਾਹਜ ਹੋ, ਤਾਂ ਅਪੀਲ ’ਤੇ ਮੁਫਤ ਭਾਸ਼ਾ ਸਹਾਇਤਾ ਜਾਂ ਹੋਰ ਸਹਾਇਤਾਵਾਂ ਅਤੇ ਸੇਵਾਵਾਂ ਉਪਲੱਬਧ ਹਨI ਕਿਰਪਾ ਕਰ ਕੇ ਕਾਲ ਕਰੋ 564-233-1879.
The Department of Ecology is preparing for the Nooksack water right adjudications over the course of the next biennium. Adjudication is needed to determine how much water is legally available for use and to secure water for long-term planning and instream flow protection. For more information, please visit our Nooksack Adjudication website.
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