Attention Nooksack Basin Residents and Business Owners: Urgent Water Rights Alert for Nooksack Watershed Residents

If you depend on water from wells, streams, or lakes within the Nooksack watershed, it’s vital to engage in the ongoing water rights adjudication process. Initiated by the Washington State Department of Ecology (DOE) and filed in Whatcom County Superior Court, this legal action under RCW 90.03.140 and RCW 90.44.220 will significantly affect water usage across the Nooksack River system.

What is Water Adjudication?

Water adjudication is not merely a legal formality; it is a critical process that will establish the hierarchy of water rights throughout our watershed. As pressures mount from increased population demands, environmental shifts, and the sacred tribal rights to fish, water adjudication becomes a battleground where every drop counts. This process will ensure that water use is regulated fairly and sustainably, preserving our most vital resource for future generations.

Immediate Action Required:

The adjudication process kicked off with a preliminary hearing on June 26. If you use water in this region, expect to receive a legal summons instructing you on how to file a claim for your water rights within the next year. Failure to respond could result in losing your water access. This process involves around 30,000 stakeholders, including individual users, local governments, and tribal entities. Compliance with existing regulations for permit-exempt wells is crucial to maintain your rights.

Impact on the Community:

This adjudication will profoundly impact various sectors, especially the roughly 1,500 farms relying on this water for irrigation, as well as local homeowners and businesses. Balancing water distribution is essential for sustaining agriculture and supporting the community’s future water needs.

Act Now to Protect Your Water Rights:

This is a critical time for the Nooksack community. Your active involvement is essential to ensure fair water management and safeguard your rights. Visit the DOE’s website for more information and to take part in shaping the water future of our region. Stay proactive by visiting the Whatcom County or DOE adjudication web pages, which offer resources and information to help you understand and engage in the adjudication process. For further questions, contact the DOE via their online contact form here.

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Sources

• The city is also asking the state to alleviate the city’s legal expenses incurred in the Nooksack River water adjudication.
• Claim forms for Nooksack water adjudication to be sent out in early 2025
• Water-adjudication-hearing-to-be-held-on-Tuesday
• New adjudication will assist in salmon conservation efforts, but could disadvantage Whatcom farmers
• Whatcom County First Hearing
• The Northern Light
• Lynden Tribune: Water Rights Experts Warn Of Losing Water Access If Existing Uses Aren't Defended
• Reddit
• The Front: Water Rights Lawsuit
• Washington State Department of Ecology: WRIA 1 Adjudication
• Whatcom County Water Adjudication Case Documents and Docket
• Whatcom County WRIA 1 Water Rights Adjudication Resources
• Water Rights Adjudication Begins for Washington's Whatcom and Northern Skagit Counties
• Ecology Starts Water Rights Adjudication for Nooksack River System
• WRIA 1 Adjudication Filings
• September 26th, 2024 Hearing Update
• Washington Courts Adjudication FAQs
• Water Rights Info for Homeowners
• Water Adjudication Case Documents
• DOE Latest News & Media - Nooksack adjudication
• Water rights lawsuit in Whatcom County to deal with water shortage
• Preparing for the Nooksack Basin Water Rights Adjudication



Have questions? Email WRadjudications@ecy.wa.gov