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For over a decade, Methow Valley Citizens Council, Futurewise, the Washington State Department of Ecology and others have been calling on Okanogan County to develop a reasonable Comprehensive Plan that considers available water (among other important variables) to guide future growth in the Methow Valley.
In February 2020, despite clear evidence that current regulations allow growth to exceed available water supplies, a new and responsible Plan eludes us.
Meanwhile, development has continued apace with 2014 regulations that do not account for the county’s responsibility to ensure legally and physically available water before approving permits. This creates uncertainty for hundreds of present and future lots.
MVCC and others have sent numerous letters strongly urging our Commissioners to look closer at permitting procedures and revise the Comprehensive Plan in a way that addresses significant questions about water availability. The response was to deny and delay.
After years of asking and waiting, MVCC and Futurewise offered legal action to the county as one choice to provide clarity. Only after this exchange did the county relay the matter to independent attorneys for evaluation.
On the advice of counsel, Commissioners hit the pause button on new subdivisions on December 18, 2019 with the adoption of Ordinance 2019-11. The ordinance puts a two-year hold on most new subdivisions of land in the Methow Valley, to allow the County time to study how much water is available to support residential growth.
As noted in our comments, we support the Ordinance but believe that it needs improvement to achieve its purpose of limiting uncertainty while issues are studied.
We are hopeful that the study and resulting solutions will be accomplished in a collaborative fashion with all stakeholders at the table sharing information and problem-solving together. We hope that this work will be guided by the community vision provided by participants in the Methow Watershed Council’s Water 2066 process.
We encourage the use of the most current science to guide all study and discussion.
This week’s Washington Post article underscores that climate change will continue to test our assumptions about how much water is “enough.”
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For a deeper dive, check out these documents:
Always feel free to contact us with your questions!
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Call and letters urgently needed to support water transfer legislation.
February 18, 2020Water Transfer Legislation Update
February 27, 2020Comments Needed to Promote Responsible Water Use and Growth in the Methow
On February 25th at 2pm, the Board of County Commissioners will hold a public hearing on Ordinance 2019-11.
The Ordinance puts a two-year hold on most new subdivisions of land in the Methow Valley, to allow the County time to study how much water is available to support residential growth.
If you prefer careful management of our water supply, please email the Commissioners and share your support for the Ordinance.
Let the Commissioners know that to reach our shared goal of well-managed growth, we need:
You can submit written testimony until 2pm on Feb 25th by emailing Lalena Johns, Clerk of the Board, at ljohns@co.okanogan.wa.us.
For the most impact, send your comments today or Monday!
How did we get here?
For over a decade, Methow Valley Citizens Council, Futurewise, the Washington State Department of Ecology and others have been calling on Okanogan County to develop a reasonable Comprehensive Plan that considers available water (among other important variables) to guide future growth in the Methow Valley.
In February 2020, despite clear evidence that current regulations allow growth to exceed available water supplies, a new and responsible Plan eludes us.
Meanwhile, development has continued apace with 2014 regulations that do not account for the county’s responsibility to ensure legally and physically available water before approving permits. This creates uncertainty for hundreds of present and future lots.
MVCC and others have sent numerous letters strongly urging our Commissioners to look closer at permitting procedures and revise the Comprehensive Plan in a way that addresses significant questions about water availability. The response was to deny and delay.
After years of asking and waiting, MVCC and Futurewise offered legal action to the county as one choice to provide clarity. Only after this exchange did the county relay the matter to independent attorneys for evaluation.
On the advice of counsel, Commissioners hit the pause button on new subdivisions on December 18, 2019 with the adoption of Ordinance 2019-11. The ordinance puts a two-year hold on most new subdivisions of land in the Methow Valley, to allow the County time to study how much water is available to support residential growth.
As noted in our comments, we support the Ordinance but believe that it needs improvement to achieve its purpose of limiting uncertainty while issues are studied.
We are hopeful that the study and resulting solutions will be accomplished in a collaborative fashion with all stakeholders at the table sharing information and problem-solving together. We hope that this work will be guided by the community vision provided by participants in the Methow Watershed Council’s Water 2066 process.
We encourage the use of the most current science to guide all study and discussion.
This week’s Washington Post article underscores that climate change will continue to test our assumptions about how much water is “enough.”
Additional Resources
For a deeper dive, check out these documents:
Always feel free to contact us with your questions!
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