Washington State Opens Public Comment for Outstanding Resource Waters

Washington State Department of Ecology has initiated a rulemaking process to establish the first Outstanding Resource Waters in the State. In 2022 American Whitewater joined other river conservation groups in the state in nominating the state’s first Outstanding Resource Waters: the Cascade (Skagit watershed), Green (Toutle watershed), and Napeequa (Wenatchee) rivers. The Washington State Department of Ecology has opened a 60-day public comment period to establish the level of public support for these designations and your voice is important.

Outstanding Resource Waters are designations determined by the State of Washington through the authority granted them by the Clean Water Act. Outstanding Resource Waters protect existing high water quality for the environment, wildlife, and recreation, and safeguard freshwater from future degradation. Protection of these waters is a huge step forward to ensure that these streams retain their high quality and preserve their exceptional ecological and recreational values.

Take Action Today (comment period closes September 27th):  https://ws.ecology.commentinput.com/?id=sUiNmjf5V

Public participation helps demonstrate community interest and support. Comments can be short and concise. It's helpful to introduce yourself and your personal connection to the Cascade (Skagit watershed), Green (Toutle watershed), or Napeequa (Wenatchee) rivers. Perhaps you have had an opportunity to boat one of these rivers or maybe you have boated a downstream reach and can describe the importance of headwater protection for the reach you enjoy downstream. Be sure to describe any unique attributes of these rivers that you believe justify their designation as Outstanding Resource Waters.

In addition to providing online comments, there are will be three public meetings where you can learn more about the designation and provide public comment.

Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2023, 2 p.m.
Kalama Community Building
216 Elm St.
Kalama, WA 98625
The presentation during this hearing will focus on the Green River.

Thursday, Sept. 14, 2023, 2 p.m.
Skagit County Public Utility District - Aqua Room
1415 Freeway Dr.
Mount Vernon, WA 98273
The presentation during this hearing will focus on the Cascade River

Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2023, 2 p.m.
Bavarian Lodge - Hintertux Room
810 US Hwy 2
Leavenworth, WA 98826
The presentation during this hearing will focus on the Napeequa River

We recommend putting comments in your own words, but here are additional points you can consider incorporating:

• These waterways provide a multitude of ecosystem services including clean drinking water for communities, habitat that is critical to health and abundance of fish and wildlife species, scenic beauty that is a defining attribute of our quality of life, and numerous recreational opportunities for residents and visitors including fishing, boating, hiking and camping.

• Outdoor recreation supports $26.5 billion in annual expenditures and 264,000 jobs throughout Washington State and clean water is critical to this economic sector.

• Protecting unimpaired headwaters is critical to the health of our rivers and everything downstream. The Clean Water Act recognizes the unique value of waterways of exceptional water quality and provides an opportunity for states to identify waterways as Outstanding Resource Waters.

• The rivers being considered, the first for Washington State, represent outstanding state resources due to their extraordinary water quality, ecological, and recreational values.

• Although Washington has an abundance of high-quality waters that are important to protect, to date Ecology has not designated any Outstanding Resource Waters. Other western states, including Oregon, Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona have taken advantage of this opportunity under the Clean Water Act to protect priority rivers.

• The Cascade, Green, and Napeequa rivers in Washington State all meet multiple regulatory criteria for Outstanding Resource Waters designation and are deserving of protection as Outstanding Resource Waters. All three of the river systems are pristine and located in protected areas; have both excellent water quality and regionally unique recreational value; and have statewide ecological significance.

• Designation of these river systems would benefit the state’s people, its economy, its wildlife, and its salmon. It is essential that the state take steps now to protect some of its remaining high-quality rivers that provide numerous benefits to Washingtonians.

• As impacts from climate change become increasingly more evident, protecting our high-quality rivers and streams is an essential investment for our future.