Watershed planning under this chapter shall address water quantity in the management area by undertaking an assessment of water supply and use in the management area and developing strategies for future use.

(1) The assessment shall include:

(a) An estimate of the surface and ground water present in the management area;

(b) An estimate of the surface and ground water available in the management area, taking into account seasonal and other variations;

(c) An estimate of the water in the management area represented by claims in the water rights claims registry, water use permits, certificated rights, existing minimum instream flow rules, federally reserved rights, and any other rights to water;

(d) An estimate of the surface and ground water actually being used in the management area;

(e) An estimate of the water needed in the future for use in the management area;

(f) An identification of the location of areas where aquifers are known to recharge surface bodies of water and areas known to provide for the recharge of aquifers from the surface; and

(g) An estimate of the surface and ground water available for further appropriation, taking into account the minimum instream flows adopted by rule or to be adopted by rule under this chapter for streams in the management area including the data necessary to evaluate necessary flows for fish.

(2) Strategies for increasing water supplies in the management area, which may include, but are not limited to, increasing water supplies through water conservation, water reuse, the use of reclaimed water, voluntary water transfers, aquifer recharge and recovery, additional water allocations, or additional water storage and water storage enhancements. The objective of these strategies is to supply water in sufficient quantities to satisfy the minimum instream flows for fish and to provide water for future out-of-stream uses for water identified in subsection (1)(e) and (g) of this section and to ensure that adequate water supplies are available for agriculture, energy production, and population and economic growth under the requirements of the state's growth management act, chapter 36.70A RCW. These strategies, in and of themselves, shall not be construed to confer new water rights. The watershed plan must address the strategies required under this subsection.

(3) The assessment may include the identification of potential site locations for water storage projects. The potential site locations may be for either large or small projects and cover the full range of possible alternatives. The possible alternatives include off-channel storage, underground storage, the enlargement or enhancement of existing storage, and on-channel storage.

Intent—2001 2nd sp.s. c 19: "The legislature recognizes the potential for additional water storage as a solution to the water supply needs of the state. Last year the legislature created a task force to examine the role of increased water storage in providing water supplies to meet the needs of fish, population growth, and economic development, and to enhance the protection of people's lives and their property and the protection of aquatic habitat through flood control facilities. One solution discussed by the task force to address the state's water supply problem is to store water when there is excess runoff and streamflow, and deliver or release it during the low flow period when it is needed. The task force discussed the need for assessments of potential site locations for water storage projects. The legislature intends this act to assist in obtaining the assessments relating to water storage." [ 2001 2nd sp.s. c 19 s 1.]