WRIA 1 Water Rights Adjudication Resources

This webpage is continually being updated as we develop informational materials and resources. Page last updated on 10/23/2024.

Latest News

The adjudication court claim form has not been mailed yet. It is currently in review by Whatcom County Superior Court. The Department of Ecology will notify all water users involved by certified mail after the court approves the form and summons. The mailing is anticipated to occur January through May 2025 at the earliest, unless changed by further court decisions.

Background

  • What Is Adjudication? A water rights adjudication is a legal process to quantify and prioritize water use, with highest priority given to the oldest, continuous water use (RCW 90.03).
  • When Will It Occur? The Washington Department of Ecology filed a water rights adjudication with the Whatcom County Superior Court on May 1, 2024. It is currently in review by the court. The entire process is expected to take over 10 years.
  • Where Is It Occurring? This water adjudication covers all of Water Resource Inventory Area (WRIA) 1 Nooksack Basin, including the entire Nooksack River watershed as well as nearby Bellingham Bay, Birch Bay, Chuckanut, Drayton Harbor, Lake Whatcom, Lummi Bay, Point Roberts, and Sumas River watersheds. See map.
  • Who Is Involved? This water adjudication involves everyone who withdraws water from a well or diverts water from a waterbody (such as a stream or lake) in WRIA 1. It does not involve people who obtain all of their water from a city or other water provider. To find out if your water usage address is in WRIA 1, go to the state WRIA finder.
  • How Is It Happening? The Department of Ecology will notify all water users involved by certified mail after the court approves the summons. The mailing is anticipated to occur January through May 2025 at the earliest, unless changed by further court decisions. Within one year of receiving mailed notice, these water users will need to file an adjudication court claim to describe their water use. After court claim forms are due, water users will have three more years to collect and submit evidence to support their claims. Eventually, the court will inventory all legal water rights in order.
  • Why Is It Happening? The Washington State Legislature funded the Water Resources Adjudication Assessment (2020), which identified WRIA 1 as a top priority area for adjudication. The Legislature has since provided funding for the adjudication. 

Informational Meetings

Whatcom County Public Works intends to host multiple meetings, some in collaboration with the Department of Ecology and others as workshops hosted by a private consultant. Meetings will vary by topic to focus on specific water users. All meetings hosted by Whatcom County Public Works will be listed here, as will a number of meetings or webinars hosted by other organizations.

  1. Recorded
  2. Upcoming
Topic & Information Links Host
Securing Your Water Rights- What's Next- 10/22/24 Presentation
Water rights experts and an experienced water rights attorney discuss the adjudication and the information water rights holders will need as they fill out the required paperwork.

 Coming Soon Whatcom Family Farmers and Ag Water Board
Water Adjudication Overview & Resources for Residential Well Users- 9/23/24 Presentation
A presentation introducing Washington water right law, adjudication, and resources to help well users estimate water use and prepare for the adjudication.
Video
Slides		 Whatcom County Public Works and Aspect Consulting
What's in a Well Report?- 6/20/24 Presentation
A presentation on how to access and use information from well reports to fill out an adjudication court claim form. 
 Video Department of Ecology
Water Rights Documents- 5/6/24 Presentation
A presentation on water rights documents, followed by a question and answer period. 
 Video Department of Ecology
Protecting Your Water: Understanding the Water Rights Lawsuit- 3/27/24 Presentation
Water rights experts share information on the adjudication court filing process and how to document water rights and historical water use.
 Videos Whatcom Family Farmers and Ag Water Board
Small Commercial Farms & Adjudication- 2/29/24 Presentation
An overview of adjudication with a focus on agricultural use of water.
 Video Department of Ecology and Whatcom County Public Works
2024 Nooksack Adjudication Webinar- 1/31/24 Presentation
General information to help inform WRIA 1 water users about adjudication.
 Video Department of Ecology

Resources

Washington Department of Ecology Assistance

Collect Measurements and Document Evidence

  • Adjudication Resource Maps-  Includes a mapping tool you can use to measure areas, collect coordinates, view historical imagery, and look up the year a home was built.
  • Water Use Calculators- Tools to estimate water use for home, irrigation, livestock, and miscellaneous water uses.
  • Additional Instructions- Whatcom County Public Works is working with a consultant to develop instructions to aid water users in collecting information for the adjudication court claim form. Additional instructions are currently in development.

Ag Water Board of Whatcom County

Whatcom County Superior Court Information

Survey for WRIA 1 Water Users

Whatcom County Public Works is seeking feedback on how we can better assist water users involved in the WRIA 1 adjudication process. If you directly withdraw or divert water from a well or waterbody (stream, lake) in the WRIA 1 watershed, click here to take the survey.

To find out if your water usage address is in WRIA 1, go to the state WRIA finder.

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The Washington State Legislature has provided funding to Whatcom County to develop and implement outreach and provide filing assistance to the water users involved in the WRIA 1 water rights adjudication. Whatcom County Public Works is the department administering this assistance.