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WACs > Title 173 > Chapter 173-501 > Section 173-501-030











173-501-020    

173-501-040







No agency filings affecting this section since 2003







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