Grant Programs   ABOUT US MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS FEEDBACK    Current Watershed Planning Documents WRIA 62 PHASE II, LEVEL 1 REPORT WRIA 62 PHASE II, LEVEL 2 REPORT WRIA 62 PHASE III PLAN MAIN DOCUMENT                            WRIA 62 DETAILED IMPLEMENTATION PLAN                                      WIT PROJECT APPLICATION   Click here to view the Final Draft of the Aquatic Plant Management Plan for the Pend Oreille River: River Mile 34.4-90.1.  ABOUT US In 1998, the Washington State Legislature passed the Watershed Management Act to provide a framework for local citizens, special interest groups, and local governments to collaboratively identify and solve water-related issues in each of the 62 Water Resource Inventory Areas (WRIAs) of the State. Under this law, citizens, local city and county governments, Indian tribes and other members of the Watershed Planning Unit would have considerable flexibility to determine the planning process and to focus on elements of particular importance to local citizens, assess water resources and needs, and recommend management strategies. However, the law also includes constraints on the activities of planning units. For example, the planning unit does not have the authority to change existing laws, alter water rights or treaty rights, change treaties, or require any party to take action unless that party agrees. Under the terms of the agreement, their are four elements to be considered under the Watershed Planning Act: (1) Water quantity (a required element); water quality (optional); habitat (optional); and instream flow (optional).  Watershed Planning Unit will include the first three elements in their watershed plan due to be finished in June, 2004.                                                                                 The Planning Unit is primarily made up of local people -- giving it "grass roots" representation.  However, state and federal agencies were invited by the Watershed Planning Unit to participate and lend their technical expertise to the planning unit. The Memorandum of Agreement between the Governor and the Watershed Planning Unit stipulates that the state agencies such as the Department of Ecology, Department of Fish and Wildlife, and the Department of Transportation will speak with one voice and together have only one vote to help in the planning efforts. Similarly, the U.S. Forest Service will have a single vote when decisions are to be made.  The Pend Oreille Conservation District (POCD) was appointed by the City of Newport, Pend Oreille Count, the Pend Oreille Public Utilities District and the Kalispel Tribe of Indians to provide the forum and administrative support to begin this process. Funding obtained by POCD for this project is monitored by the POCD Board of Supervisors. The Watershed Planning Unit has developed and submitted to the Washington State Department of Ecology (the directing state agency) a work plan for Phase II of this project including expenditures. Phase II funding has been received and work is underway according to the plan submitted. A report, which includes all of the known reports and data regarding WRIA 62 was compiled by a consultant and submitted to the planning unit to assist them as they continue to develop the watershed plan.  WRIA 62 DELINEATION WRIA 62 encompasses both the main stem of the Pend Oreille River and all tributaries flowing into it within Pend Oreille County.  Additionally, five sub-basins drain from the east side of the Selkirk Mountains into the Priest River. WRIA 62 is unique in that it also includes tributaries flowing into Canada on the north and into Idaho to the east. Entrix.doc MEMBERSHIP The Pend Oreille Watershed Planning Unit consists of members representing a wide variety of interests in the county. The membership includes: Pend Oreille Conservation District (Lead Agency) Veronica Douglas, Watershed Coordinator Pend Oreille County Community Development Department Mike Lithgow Real Estate and Development Dick Noble  Pend Oreille County Weed Board Sharon Sorby Pend Oreille Public Utility District (PUD) Scott Jungblom Kalispel Tribe Natural Resource Department Ken Merrill Washington Department of Ecology Jaime Short Forest Service Rob Lawler Seattle City Light Al Solonsky Panhandle National Forest Jill Cobb/ Matt Fairchild Colville National Forest Bert Wasson City of Newport Ray King  Pend Oreille County / WSU Extension Carol Mack Selkirk Conservation Alliance Meg Decker Landowner Don and Joann La Belle Landowner (Vacant) Landowner (Vacant) We've recently expanded the size of our Watershed Planning Unit and are looking for concerned citizens to come to our meetings and to give us your thoughts. If you are interested in attending a meeting or in becoming a member of the Watershed Planning Unit, please contact Veronica Douglas at Veronica@pocd.org.  MEETINGS Meetings of the Pend Oreille Watershed Planning Unit are held monthly on the third Thursday from 9 a.m. to noon at the American Lutheran Church in Newport, unless otherwise scheduled.  Other subcommittees including the Steering Committee, Habitat and Water Quality Committee, and the Water Quantity Committees meet as required. FEEDBACK We're always looking for feedback. Please provide your water resource concerns, suggestions, or ideas about our watershed planning efforts to Veronica Douglas at Veronica@pocd.org.  To contact a representative for any particular interest listed, please CONTACT US for the current member's name and phone number or email address. For Spokane County Watershed Planning information on WRIA 55&57 follow this link: http://www.spokanecounty.org/wqmp/projects     Home Page || About POCD || Grant Programs Cost Share Programs || Education Programs Community Services || Special Links || Contact Us Copyright © 2001 The Pend Oreille Conservation District, All Rights Reserved.