Small Town News

Ecology seeks help with water management

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The Washington Department of Ecology(Ecology) is seeking the public's help in finding ways to improve its management of water resources in Washington state for the benefit of current and future water users.

"The era of cheap, abundant water supplies is over, " said Ecology Director Ted Sturdevant. "With population growth, the need for economic development, the challenges of restoring fish runs, and coping with climate change, unless we change the way we manage our water resources, there won't be enough water to meet essential needs. Washington's future quality of life depends on water, and if we don't make some changes, that quality oflife will suffer."

To engage the public in a discussion of the issues surrounding water supply management, Ecology launched the Water Smart Washington Online Forum.

Ecology is considering significant changes in how the Water Resources Program is operated and funded. The program's ongoing mission is to work with Washington communities in support of sustainable water resources management to meet the present and future water needs of people and the natural environment. Efforts to fulfill the mission have been handicapped in recent years by inconsistent funding resulting from dependence on the State General Fund and the need to update 19th century-based water laws which are inadequate to meet 21st century challenges.

Ecology is considering ways to make the Water Resources Program more effective and efficient such as:

Reducing the program's reliance on the State General Fund by asking the Legislature to require users of water resource services to fund more of those services.

Improving the processing of water right applications.

Asking the Legislature to update antiquated and unclear laws to reduce excessive litigation that consumes about 10 percent of the program budget which amounted to about $1.3 million during the past fiscal year.

Comments and suggestions made in the forum will be posted online and questions on water management regulations and reform will be answered. Contributions to the forum will be categorized and archived and will help shape the policy initiatives Ecology is considering and the proposed legislation that Ecology will be requesting to reform water resource management in Washington state.

The introductory video for the Online Forum is currently available on YouTube and can be viewed at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVCEXpa92oI&feature=player_em-bedded.

Ecology will announce the Water Smart Washington Online Forum Web site in a news release the morning of activation.



Copyright 2010 The Wahkiakum County Eagle, Cathlamet, Washington. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from SmallTownPapers, Inc.

© 2011 The Wahkiakum County Eagle Cathlamet, Washington. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from DAS.

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