On May 1st, 2024, the Washington Department of Ecology (“Ecology”) filed a water rights adjudication for Water Resource Inventory Area 1 (WRIA 1) with the Whatcom County Superior Court.  This filing, which follows years of planning, preparation, and community outreach, formally begins the adjudication process. What is a Water Rights Adjudication? In short, a water…

Navigating the WRIA 1 Adjudication Process: Ecology’s Filing Timeline and Court Claim Forms The Washington State Department of Ecology (“Ecology”) is gearing up to initiate a water rights adjudication in the Nooksack Watershed, or Water Resource Inventory Area (WRIA) 1, with the goal of resolving conflicts and competition over water resources by establishing the legality,…

A recent court decision is a good reminder of the importance of creating a record and property raising issue during open records appeals of land use and environmental permit decisions.

Environmental pollution is regulated by many different levels of government, such as local, state and federal levels. Also, depending upon the type of pollutant and where that pollutant is found, more than one set of laws can apply.

Rainwater harvesting is not specifically regulated by the Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology). Ecology does have a policy which indicates that beneficial use of rainwater does not require a water right