HomeMy WebLinkAboutres1997-005WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL AGENDA BILL
NO. 1997 - 81
CLEARANCES Date Date Received in Council Office Agenda Date Assigned To
Orig. Dept.: County Council
2118/97
2/25/97
Natural Resources/Counci
Division Head:
Dept. Head:
Prosecutor:
; cZ
Budget:
Executive:
SUBJECT:
Resolution concerning water resource management
ATTACHMENTS
Resolution
SUMMARY STATEMENT.•
Related County Contract #: Should the Clerk schedule a hearing? (Y/N) N Requested Date:
Resolution resolving that the Whatcom County Council shall be an active participant in the formation and implementation of a
County -wide Water Resources Management Board consisting of elected officials from local jurisdictions.
RECOMMENDED MOTION (for final action):
COUNCIL ACTION TAKEN
1997-81 2125/97: Substitute resolution amended and approved 7 - 0. Res
#97 -005
Related File Numbers:
Ordinance or Resolution Number (this item only):
1997\watemigt.res2/25/97
SPONSORED BY: Consent
PROPOSED BY: Sutter
INTRODUCTION DATE: 2/25/97
RESOLUTION NO. 97 -005
2 CONCERNING WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
3 WHEREAS, Whatcom County has become a focus of water resource management issues
4 including the management and allocation of flood waters, water for domestic, industrial, irrigation
5 and other beneficial uses, and the mitigation of water resource impacts to water quality and fish
6 habitat; and,
7 WHEREAS, by order of the Washington State Legislature, water is a State resource and
8 uses of water for domestic, stock watering, industrial, commercial, agricultural, irrigation,
9 hydroelectric power production, mining, fish and wildlife maintenance and enhancement,
10 recreational and thermal power production purposes, and preservation of environmental and
11 aesthetic values, and all other uses compatible with the enjoyment of the public waters of the
12 State, are declared to be beneficial (RCW 90.54.020), and,
13
14 WHEREAS, the legislature has directed that "all agencies of State and Local Government,
15 including Counties and Municipal public corporations, shall, whenever possible, carry out powers
16 invested in them in manners which are consistent with provisions of the chapter." (Chapter 90.54
17 RCW - The Water Resources Act of 1971); and,
18 WHEREAS, previous efforts relating to the coordinated management of water resources
19 have not sufficiently included the decision making role of elected legislative bodies throughout
20 Whatcom County in setting policies and procedures for the coordinated management of such
21 resources; and,
22 WHEREAS, Government jurisdictions, including Federal, State, Tribal, Local or Special
23 Districts, and private water purveyors, having been granted partial responsibility for some aspect
24 of water resources management often find themselves in conflict with one another; and,
25 WHEREAS, Whatcom County by approving Task Order 13A has appropriated $2,160.00
26 for the Nooksack Water Users Steering Committee for the purpose of developing a Memorandum
27 of Understanding between the Steering Committee and the Washington State Department of
28 Ecology for the purpose of gaining increased local control of water resource management; and,
29 WHEREAS, the Nooksack Water Users Steering Committee is engaging in a public
30 process to gather input on the preferred structure and fundk'on of a body to deal effectively with
31 water related issues; and,
32 WHEREAS, for the purpose of accountability and decision making regarding County -
33 wide water related issues it is necessary to establish an executive board comprised of elected
I officials from all local jurisdictions.
2
3 NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Whatcom County Council shall be an
4 active participant in the formation of a vehicle to develop and implement a coordinated County -
5 wide Water Resources Management Strategy.
6 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Whatcom County Council shall propose that said
7 vehicle consists of an Executive Board of elected officials from local jurisdictions and an Advisory
8 Committee composed of local technical experts and representatives of established interest groups.
9 BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the Whatcom County Council shall engage in a public
10 process to gather input on their proposal.
11 APPROVED this 25 day of February 1997.
12
13 ATTEST:
14
15 Dana rown- Davis, Clerk--oft—he Council
16 APPROVED AS TO FORM:
17
18 Civil Deputy Prosecutor
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
L. Ward Nelso , Council Chair