Department of Ecology Adopts Three Watershed Update Plans, Including Okanogan Watershed

The Washington Department of Ecology adopted updated streamflow restoration plans for three watersheds, the Okanogan watershed which covers a large portion of Okanogan county.

"The planning group there (Okanogan) developed a two tier system for projects that will add 2,786 acre-feet of water back into streams each year once its fully implemented," said Keeley Belva, Water Resources communications.

Folks from the community as well as local government were involved in the development of the plan over the last several years. The plan update includes nine well developed projects and 12 additional projects.

"[The projects] include water storage, water rights acquisition, streamflow supplementation, fish passage and habitat improvement," said Belva. "These projects will provide streamflow and ecological benefits to the watershed itself."

Chehalis and Little Spokane are the other two watershed updated plans adopted by Ecology.