Nooksack Watershed General Stream Adjudication

Efforts

Efforts describe the work of workgroups

Involved Workgroups:

• Knowledge Creation
  • Adaptive Management
  • Arts and Crafts
  • Lessons
  • Monitoring
  • Research
• Protection
  • Acquisition
  • Green Infrastructure
  • Regulation
• Restoration
  • Beach Nourishment
  • Engineered Log Jams
  • Fish Passage
  • Revegetation
• Social Change
  • Advocacy
  • Coordination
  • Education
  • Funding
  • Integrated Ecosystem Management
  • Legislation
  • Planning

Effort References

• RCO's PRISM Project Search
• Salmon Recovery Portal
• Ecology's Administration of Grants and Loans
• USACE Regulatory In-lieu Fee and Bank information Tracking System

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Adjudication is a Legal process initiated by the Washington State Department of Ecology to determine and confirm Water Rights in the basin. This process involves Tribes, farmers, Municipalities, and other water users to address disputes and ensure sustainable water allocation. The goal is to protect senior water rights, including tribal treaty rights, and balance ecological needs. It proceeds through court proceedings where users submit claims, and the court determines legal water entitlements. This adjudication aims to enhance water security, protect fish habitats (through assuring In-Stream Flow), and support long-term resource management.

• https://ecology.wa.gov/water-shorelines/water-supply/water-rights/adjudications/nooksack
• https://www.whatcomcounty.us/4282/WRIA-1-Water-Rights-Adjudication-Resourc

Notes

• It appears that a number of legal firms step into the process to represent water rights holders.
  • https://www.bdlaw.com/publications/ecology-to-begin-nooksack-water-adjudication-in-april-2024/
  • https://www.nooksackadjudication.com/
• In General Stream Adjudication water rights holders brought into a single lawsuit.
• Nooksack and Lummi Tribes are interested in quantifying their senior water rights necessary to support their treaty fishing rights.
• It took 42 years in the Yakima (1977-2019). To what extent did it include the Yakima Basin Integrated Plan of 2012 and the 50,000 acre Teanaway Community Forest in 2013.

Timeline

2025 March - Ecology mails water rights claim forms to approximately 30,000 potential water users in WRIA 1.