In 1996, eight parties with interests in the Skagit River Basin signed a Memorandum of Agreement (“1996 MOA”) to provide input to the state Department of Ecology while it worked on creating a Skagit Instream Flow Rule. Because the parties could not agree on how to handle rural areas, Ecology enacted an initial version of the rule in 2001 that deferred the issue. The eight parties to the 1996 MOA worked for five more years to come to agreement on rural water without success. Finally, in 2006, Ecology exercised its statutory authority and provided a limited water right for rural areas. The resulting final rule is the most environmentally progressive instream flow rule in the State of Washington.

 

Water Rights Presentation to Anacortes Officials (Streaming Windows Media Video)
Skagit County scheduled this water rights presentation before Anacortes city officials immediately after Anacortes filed lawsuits against the County and the State.Anacortes City Council Chambers, February 21, 2007