HomeMy WebLinkAboutWater Resources April 14 1992WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WATER RESOURCES COMMITTEE
Tuesday, April 14, 1992
The meeting was called to order at noon in the Council Chambers, 1000 N. Forest,
2nd floor, by Chairperson Barbara Brenner.
Present: Absent:
Larry Harris
Robert Imhof
1. PRESENTATION BY VERN JOHNSON, LUMMI TRIBAL COUNCIL, ON WATER
ISSUES FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE LUMMI NATION (AB92 -147A)
Topics discussed: Slide presentation of Nooksack basin; logging and agricultural
impacts; illegal withdrawal of water for irrigation from the Nooksack; Middle Fork diversion
into Lake Whatcom; PUD water withdrawal; industrial withdrawal (Intalco, BP, Arco);
Sandy Point sewage treatment; Sandy Point Heights water rights; Georgia Manor's desire
to move their well; new homes being built during moratorium at Sandy Point; siltation of
Nooksack River; water quality decrease of Nooksack; two resolutions that were passed by
the Lummi Indian Business Council ( #92-42 and #92 -43, attached); court cases relating to
water rights coming forth in about 6 -8 weeks; Lummi Indians are purveyors of water on
reservation; Lummi Indians probably will not renew the contract for the ferry slip on Lummi
Island; non - Indian attendance at the May 21 Lummi hearing on water issues on the
reservation.
Persons speaking: Vern Johnson, Lummi Tribal Council; Brenner; Harris; Jay Tabor
2. RESOLUTION TO ESTABLISH POLICY AND STAFF ORGANIZATION FOR THE
STUDY OF . AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A COUNTY SATELLITE WATER
MANAGEMENT PLAN (AB91 -112B)
Topics discussed: County Executive's concern that satellite system management
circumvents necessary people who need to be involved; substitute Senate Bill #5357 made
amendments; satellite system manager criteria to be established; state approves systems and
reviews and has authority to assess fees; County must identify potential unclaimed areas and
assign a purveyor; discussion on whether the proposed resolution is good or bad; planning
ahead on the part of the committee members; degree of urgency for this resolution; request
to Executive to define the lines of authority (chain of command); ways to pull all the
programs together to work with each other; who qualifies as a satellite system manager.
Persons speaking: Brenner; Sue Blake, WC Water Resource Protection Manager;
Harris; Debbie Kingsley, PUD; Imhof; Doug Dobyns, Nooksack Tribal leader.
Water Resources Committee, 4/14/92, p. 1
IMHOF MOVED TO WITHDRAW THE RESOLUTION.
The motion carried.
Brenner .and Blake plan to get together after meeting to work out a specific request
to the Executive for guidance.
3. OTHER BUSINESS
The meeting was adjourned at 1:15.
ATTEST:
Marina McAllister, Assistant Clerk
WATER RESOURCES COMMITTEE
Barbara Brenner, Member
Water Resources Committee, 4/14/92, p. 2