PDFWAC 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.