What Happened?
On December 18, 2019, on the advice of their legal counsel, the Okanogan County Commissioners unanimously adopted Ordinance 2019-11, which designates the Methow Watershed as a Water Availability Study Area.

The ordinance puts a two-year hold on virtually all new residential subdivisions of land, to allow the County time to study how much water is available for drinking water supplies in the Methow Valley now and in the future. Under the ordinance, lots can still be created for farming or other uses that don’t require drinking water.

The Methow Valley News published a helpful story that describes the underlying issues leading to the ordinance.

What is MVCC’s position on this issue?
MVCC believes the ordinance is a necessary first step to limit the risk to the County and property owners posed by continuing approval of land divisions and building permits without legally available water.

We’ve been sounding the alarm for many years about the disconnect between the laws governing water use and decisions made about land use. MVCC’s appeal of the 2014 Comprehensive Plan was based largely on the problem of unplanned development in our valley outpacing future water, and the problem has only grown while the Comp Plan remains unchanged.

Meanwhile, recent overwhelming feedback from valley residents implores us to envision a future where limited water supplies are carefully managed to ensure there’s enough in the right places to support fish and wildlife, small farms and open spaces. 

Slowing the pace of residential development now will allow the County and other interested parties including Tribes time to obtain and analyze information, identify barriers to achieving our vision, and develop lasting solutions that protect the Methow Valley’s future water supply and direct growth in ways consistent with the community’s desires.

Where do we go from here?
To move forward, water use regulations and land use plans and regulations need to be updated together. Until the issues are resolved and the law changes, the County must follow the current law.

To reach our shared goal of well-managed growth, we need:

• A better understanding of physically available water year-round, including changes in timing from climate impacts
• A shared vision for how this community wants to prioritize limited water use
• A legal framework for water use that reflects these priorities

The Methow Valley Citizens Council has been, and remains, ready and willing to engage in productive discussions with all interested parties. Our priority is to ensure that the values we all cherish are protected for many generations.

We encourage our members and friends to attend the hearing, learn more, ask questions and speak your mind. There is a 3 minute limit for verbal testimony.
Written comments can be emailed to ljohns@co.okanogan.wa.us and will also be accepted at the hearing.
Please read MVCC’s comments here.