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Under the State of
Washington’s Watershed Management Act (Chapter
90.82 RCW) local governments are authorized to initiate a watershed
planning process. The process is broad in scope and involves
stakeholders and agencies at the local, regional, state and federal
levels. The watershed planning program is designed to foster planning
for water quantity, water quality, aquatic habitat and instream flow in
a comprehensive and integrated fashion.
Cowlitz County is within
four watershed basins. The Department's planning staff was involved in
the development of the Grays-Elochoman and Cowlitz Watershed Management
Plan (WRIA
25-26) and the Salmon-Washougal and Lewis Watershed Management Plan
(WRIA
27-28).
WRIA 25 comprises the
Grays River Basin and Elochoman River Basin as well as Germany, Mill and
Abernathy Creeks, and WRIA 26 comprises the Cowlitz River Basin. Most of
the land area within WRIAs 25 and 26 lies within Wahkiakum, Cowlitz and
Lewis Counties. Small portions of these two WRIAs also extend into
Pacific, Skamania, Yakima and Pierce Counties. WRIAs 25 and 26 include
several subbasins that drain to the Columbia River, but do not include
the Columbia River itself. Therefore, management of the mainstem
Columbia River is not addressed in this plan.
WRIA
28 comprises the Salmon Creek, Burnt Bridge Creek, Lacamas Creek, and
Washougal River Basins, as well as additional smaller creek basins. Most
of the land area within WRIAs 27 and 28 lies within Clark, Cowlitz and
Skamania Counties. A very small portion of WRIA 27 also extends into
Yakima County. WRIAs 27 and 28 include several subbasins that drain to
the Columbia River, but do not include the Columbia River itself.
Therefore, management of the mainstem Columbia River is not addressed in
this plan.
The
WRIA 25/ 26 and WRIA 27/28 Planning Units met on a monthly basis from
1999 through 2004. During this period the Planning Unit undertook an
assessment of water resource conditions, commissioned a series of
technical memoranda on water resource issues and solutions, and oversaw
preparation of the Management Plan. The
Lower Columbia
Fish Recovery Board (LCFRB) serving as Lead Agency for this effort
staffed the Planning Unit. On a parallel track, the LCFRB has also
coordinated the development of the Lower Columbia recovery/subbasin plan
for Endangered Species Act list salmon and other fish and wildlife.
Portions of the recovery plan constitute the habitat element of the
Watershed Management Plan.
The
Plans were completed in July 2006. Currently, the Planning Units are
developing rules to enact the provisions set forth within the Plans.
Cowlitz County WRIA Map
For
more information regarding the plans, please go to the Department of
Ecology's webpage links below.
WRIA 25 info site:
WRIA
25, Grays-Elochoman Links
WRIA 26 info site:
WRIA
26, Cowlitz Links
WRIA 27 info site:
WRIA
27, Lewis Links
WRIA 28 info site:
WRIA
28, Salmon-Washougal Links
An Interactive WRIA Map site:
WA Dept.
of Ecology's WRIA Maps
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