Nooksack Watershed Management Project

Instream Flow Selection Strategy

In 1986, the state Department of Ecology set instream flows (a minimum flow level for a given stream at a given time of the year) for WRIA 1. Instream flow levels affect how much water must be in streams at various times in the year, and therefore will affect how much water is available for current and future users, as well as the quality of water in the stream and how much habitat is available for fish.

The 1986 flows, which are still in effect today, are not being met in many instances. In some streams and at certain times of the year, the actual flow levels would be lower than the required levels even if no water were taken out of the stream. The state has closed many basins to new water rights. Since the flows were set in 1986, the science around instream flow has improved—more stream and flow data have been collected with more accurate methods, there is more knowledge about what fish need in terms of habitat, and so on.

A critical goal of the Watershed Plan is to reach an agreement on new flow levels for the various streams within WRIA 1 using the best available science. Although new instream flows will not be recommended in time for inclusion in the 2004-2005 watershed plan, an action plan for selecting them will be included in the plan.

Instream Flow Selection Strategy Summary (PDF)
Full Version of Instream Flow Action Plan - Version 6a (PDF)

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