Section 173-505-070 - Stream closures(1) The department determines that, based on historical and current low flows and uses, no water is available for additional year-round appropriation from the streams and tributaries in the Stillaguamish River basin. All unappropriated water from the streams and rivers is hereby appropriated for purposes of protecting and preserving fish and wildlife and other instream values, as of the date of this chapter. Therefore, the department closes all the rivers and streams in the Stillaguamish River basin to any further appropriations. This includes all groundwater hydraulically connected to those surface waters, the withdrawal of which will have an effect on the flow or level of the rivers and streams.(2) Exceptions to the closures and instream flow requirements are provided in WAC 173-505-060, 173-505-070(3), 173-505-080, 173-505-090 and 173-505-110.(3) The department finds that there is some water above the instream flows at specific locations and times of year that could be captured for storage or other projects that do not require year-round, uninterruptible water supplies. Therefore, the water sources described in the table below have water available for the time periods specified. These withdrawals are subject to the instream flows established in WAC 173-505-050 and the maximum allocations defined in WAC 173-505-100(2). Table 7 Water Source and Open Periods*
Water Source | Open Period |
Stillaguamish River from its multiple mouths at Port Susan to the confluence of N.F. Stillaguamish River and S.F. Stillaguamish River (RM 0 to 17.8). | October 16-June 30 |
N.F. Stillaguamish, from RM 0 (its confluence with the S.F. Stillaguamish) to river mile 17.6. | October 16-June 30 |
N.F. Stillaguamish River, from RM 17.6 to its headwaters. | November 1-June 30 |
S.F. Stillaguamish River from its confluence with the N.F. Stillaguamish River (RM 17.8) to RM 34.9. | November 1-June 15 |
Pilchuck Creek from mouth to RM 16.4 (confluence of Bear Creek). | October 16-May 31 |
Squire Creek from mouth to its headwaters. | November 1-February 15, and May 1-June 30 |
Canyon Creek from mouth to RM 11.8 (confluence of N.F. Canyon Creek and S.F. Canyon Creek). | December 1-May 31 |
N.F. is North Fork | S.F. is South Fork | RM is river mile |
*Tributaries to the water sources are excluded from the open period unless specifically listed. |
Wash. Admin. Code § 173-505-070
Statutory Authority: Chapters 43.27A, 90.54, 90.22, and 90.82 RCW. 05-18-016 (Order 02-17), § 173-505-070, filed 8/26/05, effective 9/26/05.