Statutes, codes, and regulations
Washington Administrative Code
Title 173 - Ecology, Department of (See also Titles 197, 317, 372, and 508)
Chapter 173-501 - Instream resources protection program Nooksack water resource inventory area (WRIA) 1
Section 173-501-030 - Establishment of instream flows

Wash. Admin. Code § 173-501-030

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Current through Register Vol. 24-23, December 1, 2024
Section 173-501-030 - Establishment of instream flows
(1) Stream management units and associated control stations are established as follows:

Stream Management Unit Information

Control

Station No.

Stream Management

Unit Name

Control Station

by River Mile

and Section,

Township and

Range

Stream Management Reach

Anderson Creek

Gage # WDOE-2109-00

1.4

Section 19

T. 39 N., R. 4 E.

From confluence with Nooksack River to headwaters, including all tributaries.

Bells Creek

Gage # WDOE-2073-00

0.5

Section 21

T. 39 N., R. 5 E.

From confluence with Nooksack River to headwaters, including all tributaries.

Bertrand Creek

Gage # WDOE-2124-00

1.0

Section 26

T. 40 N., R. 2 E.

From U.S./Canada border to confluence with Nooksack River, including all tributaries.

California Creek

Gage # WDOE-2134-00

3.0

Section 21

T. 40 N., R. 1 E.

From influence of mean annual high tide at low instream flow levels to headwaters, including all tributaries.

Canyon Creek

Gage # WDOE-2045-00

0.2

Section 35

T. 40 N., R. 6 E.

From confluence with N. Fk. Nooksack River to headwaters, including all tributaries.

Canyon Creek at Kulshan

Gage # 12-2085-00

0.2

Section 27

T. 39 N., R. 5 E.

From confluence with N. Fk. Nooksack River to headwaters, including all tributaries.

Cornell Creek

Gage # WDOE-2057-00

0.6

Section 1

T. 39 N., R. 6 E.

From the confluence with N. Fk. Nooksack River to headwaters, including all tributaries.

Dakota Creek near Blaine

Gage # 12-2140-00

3.5

Section 9

T. 40 N., R. 1 E.

From influence of mean annual high tide at low instream flow levels to headwaters, including all tributaries.

Deer Creek

Gage # WDOE-2130-50

0.2

Section 28

T. 39 N., R. 2 E.

From the confluence with Tenmile Creek to headwaters, including all tributaries.

Fishtrap Creek at Lynden

Gage # 12-2120-00

6.9

Section 16

T. 40 N., R. 3 E.

From U.S./Canada border to confluence with Nooksack River, including all tributaries.

Gallop Creek

Gage # WDOE-2056-00

0.3

Section 7

T. 39 N., R. 7 E.

From the confluence with N. Fk. Nooksack River to headwaters, including all tributaries.

Hutchinson Creek

Gage # WDOE-2101-00

1.8

Section 36

T. 38 N., R. 5 E.

From confluence with South Fork Nooksack River to headwaters, including all tributaries.

Johnson Creek

Gage # WDOE-2149-00

0.5

Section 35

T. 41 N., R. 4 E.

From U.S./Canada border to headwaters including all tributaries.

Kendall Creek

Gage # 12-2065-00

0.1

Section 3

T. 39 N., R. 5 E.

From the confluence with N. Fk. Nooksack River to headwaters, including all tributaries.

Maple Creek

Gage # WDOE-2059-00

0.8

Section 30

T. 40 N., R. 6 E.

From confluence with N. Fk. Nooksack River to headwaters, including all tributaries.

Nooksack River

(at Deming)

12-2105-00

36.6

Section 31

T. 39 N., R. 5 E.

From confluence with Smith Creek to confluence of North Fork and Middle Fork Nooksack Rivers.

Nooksack River

(at Ferndale)

12-2131-00

5.8

Section 29

T. 39 N., R. 2 E.

From influence of mean annual high tide at low instream flow levels to confluence with, and including, Smith Creek.

Nooksack River

(Middle Fork)

12-2080-00

5.0

Section 13

T. 38 N., R. 5 E.

From confluence with North Fork to headwaters.

Nooksack River

(North Fork)

12-2072-00

44.1

Section 10

T. 39 N., R. 5 E.

From confluence with Middle Fork to head-

waters.

Nooksack River

(South Fork)

12-2090-00

5.0

Section 19

T. 38 N., R. 5 E.

From confluence with Nooksack River (mainstem) to headwaters.

Porter Creek

Gage # WDOE-2084-00

0.7

Section 11

T. 38 N., R. 5 E.

From the confluence with M. Fk. Nooksack R. to headwaters, including all tributaries.

Racehorse Creek

Gage # WDOE-2071-00

1.5

Section 11

T. 39 N., R. 5 E.

From confluence with N. Fk. Nooksack River to headwaters, including all tributaries.

Saar Creek

Gage # 12-2155-00

0.2

Section 31

T. 41 N., R. 5 E.

From U.S./Canada border to headwaters, including all tributaries.

Silver Creek

Gage # WDOE-2132-00

2.0

Section 4

T. 38 N., R. 2 E.

From confluence with Nooksack River to headwaters, including all tributaries.

Skookum Creek near

Wickersham

Gage # 12-2095-00

0.1

Section 27

T. 37 N., R. 5 E.

From confluence with South Fork Nooksack River to headwaters, including all tributaries.

Smith Creek

Gage # WDOE-2111-00

0.8

Section 22

T. 39 N., R. 4 E.

From confluence with Nooksack River to headwaters, including all tributaries.

Sumas River near Sumas

Gage # 12-2145-00

2.1

Section 2

T. 41 N., R. 4 E.

From U.S./Canada border to headwaters including all tributaries.

Tenmile Creek at Laurel

Gage # 12-2129-00

4.4

Section 13

T. 39 N., R. 2 E.

From confluence with Nooksack River to headwaters, including all tributaries.

Terrell Creek

Gage # WDOE-2133-00

2.2

Section 31

T. 40 N., R. 1 E.

From influence of mean annual high tide at low instream flow levels to headwaters, including all tributaries.

Wiser Lake Creek

Gage # WDOE-2126-00

0.7

Section 2

T. 39 N., R. 2 E.

From confluence with Nooksack River to headwaters, including all tributaries.

(2) Instream flows are established for the stream management units in WAC 173-501-030(1) as follows:

Instream Flows in the Nooksack WRIA

(Instantaneous cubic feet per second)

Month

Day

WDOE-

2109-00

Anderson Cr.

WDOE-

2073-00

Bells Cr.

WDOE-

2124-00

Bertrand Cr.

WDOE-

2134-00

California Cr.

Jan.

1

15

50

50

4*

4*

90*

90*

40*

40*

Feb.

1

15

50

50

4*

3*

90*

90*

40*

40*

Mar.

1

15

50

50

2*

2*

90*

90*

40*

25*

Apr.

1

15

40

31

3*

4*

80*

60*

18*

13*

May

1

15

25

20

*

*

5*

6*

50*

40*

9*

6*

Jun.

1

15

16

13

*

*

6*

6*

33*

25*

4*

3*

Jul.

1

15

10

8

*

*

3*

2*

21*

17*

2*

2*

Aug.

1

15

6

6

*

*

1*

1*

13*

13*

2*

2*

Sep.

1

15

6

6

*

*

1*

1*

13*

13*

2*

2*

Oct.

1

15

8

11

*

*

1*

2*

13*

20*

2*

2*

Nov.

1

15

15

20

*

3*

4*

30*

40*

4*

7*

Dec.

1

15

30

50

4*

4*

60*

90*

15*

40*

*

Denotes closure period. No further consumptive rights issued for use during this time.

Month

Day

WDOE-

2045-00

Canyon Creek

WDOE-

2085-00

Canyon (Lk) Cr.

WDOE-

2057-00

Cornell Creek

Jan.

1

15

150

150

50

50

20

20

Feb.

1

15

150

150

50

50

20

20

Mar.

1

15

150

150

50

50

20

20

Apr.

1

15

150

150

50

50

20

20

May

1

15

150

150

50

50

20

20

Jun.

1

15

150

150

50

50

15

9

Jul.

1

15

150

80

*

*

50

30

*

*

25

3

*

*

Aug.

1

15

40

40

*

*

15

10

*

*

3

3

*

*

Sep.

1

15

40

40

*

*

10

10

*

*

3

3

*

*

Oct.

1

15

55

80

*

*

20

23

*

*

5

10

*

*

Nov.

1

15

90

110

*

27

32

*

20

20

*

Dec.

1

15

130

150

40

43

20

20

Month

Day

12-2140-00

Dakota Creek

WDOE-

2130-50

Deer Creek

12-2120-00

Fishtrap Cr.

Jan.

1

15

60*

60*

10*

10*

55*

55*

Feb.

1

15

60*

60*

10*

10*

55*

55*

Mar.

1

15

60*

40*

10*

10*

55*

55*

Apr.

1

15

30*

20*

8*

6*

45*

35*

May

1

15

15*

10*

5*

4*

30*

25*

Jun.

1

15

7*

5*

3*

2*

20*

15*

Jul.

1

15

4*

3*

2*

1*

12*

10*

Aug.

1

15

3*

3*

1*

1*

8*

8*

Sep.

1

15

3*

3*

1*

1*

8*

8*

Oct.

1

15

3*

4*

2*

2*

18*

20*

Nov.

1

15

5*

10*

3*

4*

30*

40*

Dec.

1

15

20*

60*

5*

7*

55*

55*

Month

Day

WDOE-

2056-00

Gallop

Creek

WDOE-

2101-00

Hutchinson

Creek

WDOE-

2149-00

Johnson

Creek

12-2065-00

Kendall

Cr.

Jan.

1

15

12

12

60

60

60*

60*

10*

10*

Feb.

1

15

12

12

60

60

60*

60*

10*

10*

Mar.

1

15

12

12

60

60

60*

60*

10*

10*

Apr.

1

15

`12

12

60

60

60*

45*

10*

10*

May

1

15

12

12

60

60

35*

25*

10*

10*

Jun.

1

15

12

12

60

60

20*

15*

10*

10*

Jul.

1

15

12

8

*

*

60

40

*

*

12*

9*

10*

6*

Aug.

1

15

6

5

*

*

25

15

*

*

9*

9*

4*

3*

Sep.

1

15

5

5

*

*

15

15

*

*

9*

9*

3*

3*

Oct.

1

15

5

5

*

*

25

30

*

*

9*

9*

5*

6*

Nov.

1

15

8

12

*

35

40

*

13*

20*

7*

8*

Dec.

1

15

12

12

50

60

30*

60*

9*

10*

Month

Day

WDOE-2059-00

Maple Creek

12-2105-00

Nooksack R.

(at Deming)

12-2131.00

Nooksack R.

(at Ferndale)

Jan.

1

15

20

20

2050

2050

2900

2900

Feb.

1

15

20

30

2150

2350

2900

2900

Mar.

1

15

30

30

2350

2350

2900

2900

Apr.

1

15

30

30

2350

2350

2900

2900

May

1

15

30

30

3325

3400

2900

3500

Jun.

1

15

30

30

3400

3400

3500

3500

Jul.

1

15

20

20

*

*

3400

2950

3500

3000

Aug.

1

15

20

10

*

*

1700

1700

2400

1900

Sep.

1

15

10

10

*

*

1700

1700

1800

1700

Oct.

1

15

20

20

*

*

1700

2050

1700

2050

Nov.

1

15

20

20

*

2050

2050

2300

2500

Dec.

1

15

20

20

2050

2050

2900

2900

Month

Day

12-2080-00

Nooksack

River

(Middle Fork)

12-2072-00

Nooksack River

(North Fork

nr. Deming)

12-2090-00

Nooksack

River

(South Fork)

Jan.

1

15

275

275

1100

1100

650

650

Feb.

1

15

380

380

1100

1100

650

850

Mar.

1

15

380

380

1100

1100

850

850

Apr.

1

15

380

380

1100

1100

850

850

May

1

15

380

450

1100

2000

850

850

Jun.

1

15

525

525

2000

2000

850

850

Jul.

1

15

525

400

2000

2000

850

550

*

*

Aug.

1

15

275

275

1100

1100

300

300

*

*

Sep.

1

15

275

275

1100

1100

*

*

300

300

*

*

Oct.

1

15

275

275

1100

1100

*

*

300

650

*

*

Nov.

1

15

275

275

1100

1100

*

650

650

Dec.

1

15

275

275

1100

1100

650

650

Month

Day

WDOE-

2084-00

Porter Creek

WDOE-

2071-00

Racehorse Cr.

WDOE-

2155-00

Saar Creek

Jan.

1

15

10

10

60

60

35*

35*

Feb.

1

15

10

10

60

60

35*

35*

Mar.

1

15

10

10

60

60

35*

35*

Apr.

1

15

10

10

60

80

35*

35*

May

1

15

10

10

80

90

35*

35*

Jun.

1

15

10

10

90

90

35*

35*

Jul.

1

15

10

6

*

*

50

35

*

*

22*

15*

Aug.

1

15

3

3

*

*

20

20

*

*

9*

6*

Sep.

1

15

3

3

*

*

20

20

*

*

6*

6*

Oct.

1

15

3

6

*

*

20

30

*

*

12*

14*

Nov.

1

15

10

10

*

35

40

*

17*

19*

Dec.

1

15

10

10

47

55

23*

35*

Month

Day

WDOE-

2132-00

Silver Creek

12-2095-00

Skookum Cr.

WDOE-

2111-00

Smith Creek

Jan.

1

15

12

12

115

115

40

40

Feb.

1

15

12

12

115

115

40

40

Mar.

1

15

12

12

115

115

40

40

Apr.

1

15

12

12

115

115

40

60

May

1

15

12

9

*

*

115

115

60

60

*

*

Jun.

1

15

7

6

*

*

115

115

60

40

*

*

Jul.

1

15

4

3

*

*

115

66

*

*

35

25

*

*

Aug.

1

15

3

3

*

*

66

66

*

*

15

10

*

*

Sep.

1

15

3

3

*

*

66

66

*

*

10

10

*

*

Oct.

1

15

4

4

*

*

66

80

*

*

15

20

*

*

Nov.

1

15

6

10

*

115

115

*

23

25

*

Dec.

1

15

12

12

115

115

30

35

Month

Day

12-2145-00

Sumas River

12-2129-00

Tenmile Cr.

WDOE-

2133-00

Terrell Cr.

WDOE-

2126-00

Wiser Lk. Cr.

Jan.

1

15

100*

100*

40*

40*

12

12

11

11

Feb.

1

15

100*

100*

40*

40*

12

12

11

11

Mar.

1

15

100*

100*

40*

40*

12

12

11

11

Apr.

1

15

100*

100*

40*

40*

12

12

9

7

May

1

15

70*

60*

30*

22*

8

5

*

*

6

5

*

*

Jun.

1

15

40*

35*

17*

12*

4

3

*

*

4

3

*

*

Jul.

1

15

25*

20*

10*

7*

2

2

*

*

2

2

*

*

Aug.

1

15

20*

20*

5*

5*

2

2

*

*

2

2

*

*

Sep.

1

15

20*

20*

5*

6*

2

2

*

*

2

2

*

*

Oct.

1

15

20*

20*

7*

10*

2

2

*

*

2

2

*

*

Nov.

1

15

35*

60*

15*

20*

3

5

*

3

6

*

Dec.

1

15

80*

100*

30*

40*

7

12

8

11

(3) Instream flow hydrographs, as represented in Appendix A of the document entitled Nooksack Instream Resources Protection Program, shall be used for identification of instream flows on those days not specifically identified in WAC 173-501-030(2).
(4) Future consumptive water right permits issued hereafter for diversion of surface water in the Nooksack WRIA and perennial tributaries shall be expressly subject to instream flows established in WAC 173-501-030(1) through (3) as measured at the appropriate gage, preferably the nearest one downstream and at all other downstream control stations, except for those uses described in WAC 173-501-070(1) through (3).
(5) Projects that would reduce the flow in a section of stream's length (e.g., hydroelectric projects that withdraw streamflow from some length of the channel) are considered consumptive with respect to the affected stream reach. Such projects will be subject to instream flow requirements as specified by the department. These flows will be those established in WAC 173-501-030(1) through (3) and WAC 173-501-040, or may be flows specifically tailored to that particular project and stream reach. When studies are required to determine such reach and project-specific flow requirements, the department will require the project proponent to conduct such studies in consultation with affected state and federal agencies and Indian tribes.

Wash. Admin. Code § 173-501-030

Statutory Authority: RCW 90.54.020(3)(a) and 90.54.040(1) and (2). 85-24-073 (Order 85-19), § 173-501-030, filed 12/4/85.