Washington Administrative Code Title 508 - Ecology, Department of (Water Resources) (See Titles 173, 197, and 372)
Overview of WAC Title 508 – Ecology, Department of (Water Resources)
Title 508 of the Washington Administrative Code establishes the rules and responsibilities of the Department of Ecology (DOE) specifically in the field of water resources.
It covers how water in the state is:
Managed, allocated, and protected.
Balanced between different users (municipal, agricultural, industrial, tribal, and environmental).
Conserved to ensure long-term sustainability.
⚠️ Note: Title 508 is cross-referenced with Titles 173, 197, and 372 WAC, which contain the more detailed program-level rules for environmental quality, water quality, and shoreline management.
Main Functions of WAC Title 508
Water Rights Administration
Defines how individuals, businesses, or governments can obtain and use water rights.
Establishes priorities between competing users (e.g., cities vs. farmers).
Provides the basis for approving, denying, or conditioning water right permits.
Water Allocation and Supply Planning
Rules for distributing surface water (rivers, lakes) and groundwater.
Balancing human use with ecological preservation (fish, habitat, instream flows).
Coordination with regional watershed plans.
Water Quality Protection (Link to Title 173)
Works with environmental quality regulations to prevent pollution of rivers, aquifers, and streams.
Sets minimum water standards to protect public health and ecosystems.
Environmental Review Procedures (Link to Title 197 – SEPA)
Ensures projects involving water resources (like dams, diversions, or municipal systems) undergo environmental review.
Requires consideration of environmental impact before granting permits.
Flood Control and Shoreline Management (Link to Title 372)
Provides rules for managing floodplains, dams, levees, and shoreline development.
Promotes safe land use along rivers and lakes.
Coordinates with local governments to reduce flood risks.
Conservation and Efficiency
Encourages water-saving technologies and practices.
Provides for reclamation and reuse of treated wastewater.
Supports conservation planning for municipalities and industries.
Administrative and Procedural Rules
Applications and Permits: Establishes how the public applies for water rights or changes to existing rights.
Inspections: Authorizes the Department to inspect water use, diversion structures, and reservoirs.
Records: Requires accurate recordkeeping of water withdrawals, use, and transfer.
Enforcement: The Department can issue penalties, revoke permits, or impose corrective orders for misuse or overuse of water.
Key Objectives of WAC Title 508
Ensure fair distribution of water among all users.
Protect instream flows and aquatic ecosystems.
Provide legal certainty for water right holders.
Support long-term sustainability of Washington’s water supply.
Coordinate with broader environmental regulations under Titles 173 (environmental quality), 197 (environmental review), and 372 (shoreline/flood control).
✅ In short: WAC Title 508 is the backbone for water resource management in Washington. It sets up the framework for permits, allocation, conservation, and environmental review, while the detailed technical and programmatic rules are carried out under Titles 173, 197, and 372.
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