PORT TOWNSEND — A proposed state Department of Ecology rule for new permit-exempt wells will allow small farming in the Chimacum Valley but require wiser water use, a Washington State University official said.

The proposal — filed last week for the Quilcene-Snow watershed and now open for public comment — protects water resources but also compromises with local agricultural interests, said Kate Dean, Washington State University Extensions small farms programs director in Port Hadlock.

Ecology filed the rule for the area that encompasses eastern Jefferson County in what it said was a response to increasing demands for a limited resource.

Ecology is proposing an allowance of up to 5,000 gallons a day for farmers seeking new water rights for wells in the Chimacum Valley.

“It’s consistent with the trends we see here of the small farms that can operate with that amount of water,” Dean said.

“Ecology was willing to work with us to come to some compromise. But still this rule is going affect agriculture into the future, especially in Chimacum, where they have the best soil.”

Ecology said in a statement that the proposed rule “will only apply to those seeking new ground and surface water uses after the rule is adopted.

“It offers protection to existing water users who would otherwise be at risk of competing for water in the future without this rule.”

Said Dean: “I think people getting into small farming are going to have to be a lot smarter than they have been in the past.”

Quimper, Miller

Ann Wessel, Ecology Water Resources Program representative, said the rule would not affect new agriculture water rights on either the Quimper or Miller peninsulas in East Jefferson County.

“Most of the coast areas are restricted to 500 gallons per day, except for Miller and Quimper peninsulas, where it is safe to put in new farms,” Wessel said.

Miller Peninsula includes Gardiner and the western shores of Discovery Bay. Quimper Peninsula includes Port Townsend, Cape George and east Discovery Bay to Port Hadlock.

Ecology’s proposed in-stream flow rule for 13 Jefferson County streams sets a conservation standard for new permit-exempt well uses in all Water Resource Inventory Area 17 reserves.

The Quilcene-Snow watershed, known as WRIA 17, is facing increasing water demand for new residents and local agriculture, Ecology officials say.

Streams in the watershed have chronic low flows in the late summer and early fall, according to Ecology.

Increases in water use can affect already threatened salmon and other fish and wildlife that depend on adequate water, officials say.

Ecology officials say they are proposing adoption of a rule that will help manage water to meet the current and future needs of people, farms and fish.

Ecology first proposed an in-stream flow rule in 2005, which was met with opposition from the agriculture and real estate communities fearing restrictions that threatened those business sectors.

The approximate number of new households that the reserve could supply: Big Quilcene River, 756; Chimacum Creek, 109; Donavan Creek, eight; Little Quilcene River, Leland and Howe creeks, 146; Ludlow Creek, 73; Piddling Creek, seven; Salmon Creek, 34; Snow Creek, 34; Spencer Creek, eight; Tarboo Creek, 26; Thorndyke Creek, 119.

Farms

Wessel said the rule now allows new farms in the Salmon and Snow Creek valley, allotting about 5,000 gallons per day in Salmon Creek and 3,500 for Snow Creek.

“The is possibly one new farm or two smaller farms,” she said.

Other new farm water rights applications are being allowed in the Big and Little Quilcene rivers and Thorndyke Creek if water is available, Wessel said. Some applications are pending, she said.

Ecology found that there is some water available above the in-stream flows at specific locations and times of year in the Big Quilcene River and Chimacum Creek that could be appropriated for storage or other projects that do not require year-round water supplies.

These withdrawals require a water right permit from Ecology and are subject to the seasonal restrictions.

A groundwater model study for the Chimacum sub-basin is under way, Wessel said, and that will determine what water could be drawn there, if any.

Al Latham, Jefferson County Conservation District director, raised concerns about the latest proposal saying, “What bothers me about it is the expectation for more water in the stream than we ever see.

“I think that further studies will show that we do not need to restrict all waters in Chimacum.”

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Port Townsend-Jefferson County Editor Jeff Chew can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at jeff.chew@peninsuladailynews.com.