The following index contains a range of management options that fall into one of three categories: 1) water management; 2) land management; or 3) plan implementation.  Options that are designated in bold type link to pages that provide further information about the option. Not all options show the same level of information. Help us expand the WRIA 1 Management Option Catalog by filling in information where it is missing by using the comment box that is at the end of each option description.

The WRIA 1 Watershed Management Option Catalog is not an all-inclusive list of management options.  If there is a management option that is not listed below that you would like to submit for inclusion in the catalog, please submit a completed the new management option form. 

Category: Water Management

WM1. Water Conservation

• WM1.1 Municipal Conservation

• WM1.2 Residential Conservation

• WM1.3 Industrial Conservation

• WM1.4 Agricultural Conservation

WM2. Water Reclamation and Reuse

• WM2.1 Municipal Water Reclamation and Reuse (e.g. sources)

• WM2.2 Residential Water Reclamation and Reuse (e.g. sources)

• WM2.3 Industrial Water Reclamation and Reuse (e.g. sources)

WM3. Storage

• WM3.1 Surface Water reservoirs (small or large)

  • WM3.1.1 Reservoir – Off-Channel Storage – Centralized

  • WM3.1.2 Reservoir – Off-Channel Storage – Distributed

• WM3.2 Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR)

• WM3.3 Off Channel Storage (OCS) [Birch Bay Water and Sewer District]

• WM3.4 Storage – Locate Surface – Ground Storage Site

WM4. Transfers /Diversions

• WM4.1 Trans-Basin Importation

• WM4.2 Transfers of Allocations

• WM4.3 Water Banking

WM5. Additional Water Allocations

• WM5.1 Change surface water withdrawals to groundwater or vice versa

• WM5.2 Issue New Water Rights

• WM5.3 Desalination

• WM5.4 Senior Environmental Water Right

WM6. Compliance (also applicable to Land Management section)

• WM6.1 Enforce/implement CWSP including element requiring new user to report public system prior to developing new sources

• WM6.2 Enforcement of water allocations

• WM6.3 Assist in implementing recommendations from State Health mandated Source Protection Plans and Wellhead Protection Programs. There is a source protection plan for the Nooksack, Lake Whatcom, and approximately 20 groundwater sources.

• WM6.4 Develop a recommended approach for implementing the TMDL established for achieving compliance with water quality standards unless a TMDL process has begun in the WRIA as of the date the watershed planning process is initiated under RCW 90.82.060. (Ecology proposal currently focuses on shellfish, fisheries, recreation, domestic)

• WM6.5 Track Whatcom County dairy inspection and effectiveness of the Dairy Management Act. (domestic)

WM7. Watershed Protection Plans

• WM7.1 Identify critical aquifer recharge areas and develop management options.

• WM7.2 Flush aquifers

WM8. Bellingham Middle Fork Diversion Management

• WM8.1 Manage City of Bellingham diversion to avoid flow depletion in the Middle Fork below the current instream low flow setting; future management will be based on instream flow and habitat effects to the middle Fork and Mainstem Nooksack

WM9. Ground Water Augmentation of Streams

• WM9.1 Ground Water Augmentation

WM10. Education (also applicable to Land Management section)

Category: Land Management

Category: Plan Implementation