Let's Talk About Adjudication - March 2025
In this issue
Mailer: Your adjudication court claim form is on the way
What to expect later this month
New videos
A few questions answered
Resources
We sent a mailer to let you know...
Beginning March 17, all landowners in Water Resources Inventory Area 1, within the area of a recorded water right or outside a public water system service area, will be mailed over 30 pages of adjudication documents. Those using water directly from surface or groundwater must file a claim form, even for small uses like single homes on wells. If you use water from a city or public service, no action is required. Make sure to submit your claim form by the due date listed in the summons.
What to expect later this month
Receiving your adjudication documents
Ecology is sending a large 9”x12” envelope via the U.S. Postal Service by certified mail to all identified water users. The envelope contains a cover sheet with translation information and a unique adjudication identification number, summons, instructions, court claim form, and a court information sheet.
Here are things to keep in mind
- Certified mail can’t be left in a mailbox or on a doorstep; an adult must sign for it upon
delivery.
- You and your neighbors may receive the mailing at different times, typically within one
to five days.
- Ecology will publish a list of people who didn’t sign for their certified mail in a local
newspaper.
- Ecology will have extra claim forms and instructions available.
Tell us about your water use
- Fill out the claim form describing your past and current water use. The instructions will guide you through the claim form explaining the required information and how to provide it.
- The form is best completed online. You also may hand-deliver it to the Whatcom County Superior Court. If you cannot file online or in person, contact us first for instructions.
- Not filing can result in losing your right to legally use water in the future.
Please check our website often for the latest news. No action is required until you receive the certified mail. For those who receive the form this spring, the deadline for filing is May 1, 2026.
We will send out another issue of this newsletter when the claim form mailing begins, with resources to help you fill out the form.
Watch our new videos
Certified mail is a service provided by the United States Postal Service that offers proof of mailing and delivery. If you don't receive a mailing or if you get one but don't know if you should file, please contact us.
Learn about receiving your adjudication documents by certified mail and who needs to file by watching these videos:
Receiving your court claim form
Who needs to file
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A few questions answered
We receive many inquiries about the adjudication process. Here are a few questions plus our responses.
Question: I received a mailer about the adjudication that said I should expect to receive a court claim form. I get all of my water from the City of Lynden. Do I still need to fill it out?
Response: No, you do not need to file a form. In addition, we are working on a voluntary dismissal process for people who were served but do not need to file an adjudication claim. That process is not yet available.
Question: I have two properties with wells. Will I receive two certified mailings and need to file two separate court claim forms?
Response: We are sending forms to the owner listed on county tax records for each property. We removed duplicate names when we could be sure they were the same person at the same address, but otherwise you might receive multiple mailings. If you operate two separate wells on separate properties as part of separate water rights or separate permit exemptions, you will need to file a court claim form for each use on each property. The form is best filed online, so you may not need both paper forms.
Question: What if I'm not home to receive the certified mailing?
Response: You will see whether you miss a mailing by a note left for you by the USPS with information about the delivery. After the first delivery attempt, you will then have 15 days to pick up your envelope from your post office. After that, you may pick up a claim form or additional forms and instructions at an Ecology office or request that we email or mail them to you.
Resources
Contact Ecology with your questions
Information and tools
Past Let's Talk About Adjudication e-newsletters
Coming soon
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In-person clinics
- Public meeting for homes with wells (small use)
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New videos and webinars
Language access
If you have difficulty understanding English or have a disability, free language assistance or other aids and services are available upon request. Please call 360-407-6872.
Si necesita ayuda para entender esta información, ofrecemos servicios gratuitos de traducción e interpretación, así como Braille y ASL para personas con discapacidades. Para solicitar estos servicios, llame al 360-255-4406.
Если вам нужна помощь в понимании этой информации, мы предоставляем бесплатные услуги письменного и устного перевода, а также информацию шрифтом Брайля и на американском языке жестов (American Sign Language, ASL) для людей с инвалидностью. Чтобы запросить эти услуги, позвоните по телефону 360-255-4406.
ਜੇਕਰ ਤੁਹਾਨੂੰ ਇਸ ਜਾਣਕਾਰੀ ਨੂੰ ਸਮਝਣ ਵਿੱਚ ਮਦਦ ਦੀ ਲੋੜ ਹੈ, ਅਸੀਂ ਮੁਫ਼ਤ ਅਨੁਵਾਦ ਅਤੇ ਵਿਆਖਿਆ ਸੇਵਾਵਾਂ ਪ੍ਰਦਾਨ ਕਰਦੇ ਹਾਂ, ਅਤੇ ਨਾਲ ਹੀ ਅਸਮਰਥ ਲੋਕਾਂ ਲਈ ਬ੍ਰੇਲ ਅਤੇ ਅਮਰੀਕੀ ਸੰਕੇਤ ਭਾਸ਼ਾ (American Sign Language, ASL) ਵੀ ਉਪਲਬਧ ਹਨ। ਇਹਨਾਂ ਸੇਵਾਵਾਂ ਦੀ ਬੇਨਤੀ ਕਰਨ ਲਈ, 360-255-4406 'ਤੇ ਕਾਲ ਕਰੋ।
Adjudication is a legal process in Whatcom County Superior Court between the Washington Department of Ecology and all local water users in Water Resources Area (WRIA) 1. This process requires water users to self-report their water use in a form online or on paper. The court will make a decision that lists water uses in priority (old to new), including where and how much water is legal on each parcel of land. It does not involve criminal proceedings or penalties. It does not change the current law on water use.
For more information, please visit our Nooksack Adjudication website.
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