WAC 222-22-020
Watershed administrative units. *(1) For
purposes of this chapter, the state is divided into areas
known as watershed administrative units (WAUs). The
department shall, in cooperation with the departments of
ecology, fish and wildlife, affected
Indian tribes, local government entities, forest land owners,
and the public, define WAUs throughout the state. The
department shall identify WAUs on a map.
*(2) WAUs should generally be between 10,000 to 50,000
acres in size and should be discrete hydrologic units. The
board recognizes, however, that identified watershed processes
and potential effects on resource characteristics differ, and
require different spatial scales of analysis, and the
department's determination of the WAUs should recognize these
differences. The board further recognizes that mixed land
uses will affect the ability of a watershed analysis to
predict probabilities and identify causation as required under
this chapter, and the department's conduct and approval of a
watershed analysis under this chapter shall take this effect
into account.
*(3) The department is directed to conduct periodic
reviews of the WAUs adopted under this chapter to determine
whether revisions are needed to more efficiently assess
potential cumulative effects. The department shall consult
the departments of ecology, fish and wildlife, affected Indian
tribes, forest land owners, local government entities, and the
public. From time to time and as appropriate, the department
shall make recommendations to the board regarding revision of
watershed administrative units.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 76.09.040. 05-12-119, §
222-22-020, filed 5/31/05, effective 7/1/05. Statutory
Authority: RCW 76.09.040 and chapter 34.05 RCW. 97-24-091, §
222-22-020, filed 12/3/97, effective 1/3/98. Statutory
Authority: RCW 76.09.040, 76.09.170 and chapter 34.05 RCW. 94-01-134, § 222-22-020, filed 12/20/93, effective 1/1/94. Statutory Authority: RCW 76.09.040, 76.09.050 and chapter 34.05 RCW. 92-15-011, § 222-22-020, filed 7/2/92, effective
8/2/92.]