Washington State law Chapter 90.90 RCW, regarding water resource management in the Columbia River basin requires the Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology) to develop a Columbia River mainstem water resources information system by June 30, 2009. The “Columbia River Mainstem Water Resources Information System” web site represents the first phase in meeting that requirement and provides basic water right and water claim information along the mainstems of the Columbia River and Snake River as defined in RCW 90.90.030 (12).

The web site provides access through an interactive map to information maintained by the Water Resources Program (Program) within the Department of Ecology as well as links to other water resource related information. This information includes the mapped place of water use and water sources (existing and proposed) for water right certificates, water use permits, applications for water use, and claims of water use as described on the documents maintained by the Program. Other information includes the authorized, claimed, or requested quantity of water (both instantaneous and annual) and number of irrigated acres. The purpose of water use, priority date or date of first use, as well as the name of record is also provide. In addition, images of many of the water resource documents are directly accessible as is information regarding metering. Information not maintained directly by the Water Resources Program such as flow data from stream gauging stations is also provided.

The web site will continue to evolve and the information in it will become more comprehensive as later phases of the web site are released. Proposed future phases will include customized query and result functions for totaling water right and claim information by geographic areas such as by river pool or water resource inventory area (WRIA). Water use through metering data and air photo analyses will also continue to be developed and provided.

Disclaimer

The Department of Ecology's Water Resources Program maintains for the State of Washington various documents and records related to existing or requested water rights and water claims. Existing water rights include Certificates and Permits; a Certificate is a water right that has been perfected where as a Permit is an authorization from the State for water use that has not been perfected as yet. An Application is a request for water use that has not as yet been given authorization and Claims are documents submitted to the State during past Claims Registries authorized by the legislature. Pertinent information contained within these documents has been put into the Water Right Tracking System (WRTS) database. The spatial components (place of water use and the source location) of these documents have been put into the Geographic Water-right Information System (GWIS) database. Please read the following section describing the legalities concerning the use of this information.

Water Right Data, Application Data, Claim Data, and Document Images released from the Department of Ecology are provided on an “AS IS” basis, without warranty of any kind.

The data and/or image(s) may not be accurate, complete, legible, or otherwise reliable.

Ecology disclaims any and all warranties, whether express or implied, including (without limitation) any implied warranties or fitness for a particular purpose. In no event will Ecology be liable to you or to any third party for any direct, indirect, incidental, consequential, special or exemplary damages or loss resulting from any use or misuse of these data and/or images.

The user of this information assumes the entire risk that the data and/or images may be inaccurate, incomplete, illegible, or otherwise unreliable.

The water right, application, and claim information provided on the "Map Search Results" page(s) is taken from WRTS. Although the Water Resources Program takes great pains to ensure that the data entered is correct, there may be data entry errors. The reproduction of the documents in image format is in many cases available and that information takes precedence over the tabular data found on the "Map Search Results" page(s).

Keying the information into the databases also impacts accuracy. We have tried to maintain a high level of accuracy when keying in the data, but cleaning projects continue today.

Some loss of information can occur from scanning a document. Small dots that end abbreviated words or decimals that separate whole numbers from fractions can be lost as a result of scanning. If a number has a gap between its digits or if the line that boxes it has white space where a continuous line should be, then any associated numeric value should be scrutinized. Poorly scanned documents can be rescanned from the original paper, but in some cases the legibility of the original paper may be poor.

Water source locations (wells, groundwater collectors, pumps, headworks, etc.) are only as accurate as they are described on the original documents unless field verification has been done. Most source locations are based on a metes and bounds description found on the water right document. However, in some cases the source location is only described to the nearest section, quarter section, or quarter quarter section.

Please take notice that state law states that all private citizen names and addresses obtained from a state database may not be used for any solicitation/commercial purpose.

Document Images

Imaging of water right certificates and claims began in 2001. To date approximately 70 percent of the Columbia River water right certificates and 97 percent of Columbia River claims have been imaged. Imaging of active (currently being processed) water right permits and applications began in 2007 and continues today with limited staff. A comprehensive quality check has not been completed for the imaged documents and therefore some records are linked to unrelated images and some of the images are of poor quality. Poor quality images can be due to the quality of the original paper document or the quality of the microfilm from which the documents were imaged. It is the intent of the Water Resources Department to continue to improve the document images by rescanning those of poor quality and scanning those for which no images currently exist.

Well Log Images

All well logs submitted to the state have been imaged and procedures are in place to update those images as new well logs are received. However, there are numerous groundwater certificates, groundwater permits, groundwater applications, and groundwater claims for which no well log is available. Below is a list of reasons why no well log image is available:

Groundwater Certificates – no well log was submitted to the state or no log could be found within the water right file or well log inventory. This is more common with older certificates issued prior to 1971. In 1971 the legislature enacted RCW 18.104.050 requiring submittal of well logs to the state.

Groundwater Permits - no well log was submitted to the state or no log could be found within the water right file or well log inventory; or the well has not been drilled yet.

Groundwater applications – the well has not been drilled yet

Groundwater claims – well logs were not required to be submitted to the state as part of the claims registration process and therefore most groundwater claims have no corresponding well log.

Layer Information/Metadata

Additional information (Metadata) about each layer can be accessed by clicking on the layer name within the “Layers” tab. For example, clicking on “Water Device Points” or “Streams 24K” will bring up a Map Layers help page with additional internet links to information provide under the “Information Sources” field. Many of the links are to other government agencies or organizations which are the primary sources for the Geographic Information System (GIS) datasets. Some of the GIS datasets are proprietary in nature and must be obtained directly from the primary agency or organization. In addition, a list of “Data Sources” is provided at the bottom of the GIS Layer Information page. A few of the datasets can be directly downloaded from the Department of Ecology by accessing the Ecology Internet GIS Home Page.

Unmapped Water Device Points / Centroids

An Unmapped Water Device Point represents the vicinity of a water right withdrawal or diversion, not the actual location. Unmapped water right device points are illustrated by the use of “centroids.” Centroids represent the center point of the Public Land Survey System subdivision where a water right withdrawal or diversion is located. The Public Land Survey System is a grid system covering most of the United States which is composed of townships and sections. Generally speaking, a Township is an area composed of 36 sections (6 by 6), each of them approximately one square mile in size.

The accuracy of a typical centroid will depend on whether the centroid represents the center of the Section (640 acres), Quarter Section (160 acres) or Quarter-Quarter Section (40 acres) of a described water right location. For example, if a water right withdrawal location is only known to fall within Township 20N, Range 3E and Section 10, the centroid will represent the center point of a roughly square area 640 acres in size, within which also is the point of withdrawal or location. In this case, the distance between the centroid and the actual water right location may be hundreds or even several thousand feet. If the centroid represents the center of a quarter or quarter-quarter Section, the distance between the centroid and actual location will, on average, be reduced. In all cases, however, centroids should not be construed as representing the actual location.

Definitions

Water Right Application: A new application for permission to withdraw surface water or ground water according to the laws set forth in Chapters 90.03 and 90.44 of the Revised Code of Washington (RCW).
Water Right Change Application: An application for permission to change an existing permitted or certificated water use according to Chapters 90.03 and 90.44 RCW.
Water Right Change Application in the Permit Stage: A change application that has been processed to the permit stage giving the applicant permission to develop a water right; it is not a final water right. A Change Application in the permit stage allows the applicant to proceed with construction of the water system and start putting the water to beneficial use, in accordance with the terms of the Report of Examination/Permit.
Water Right Permit: A water right permit issued by the state gives an applicant permission to develop a water right; it is not a final water right. A permit allows the applicant to proceed with construction of the water system and start putting the water to beneficial use, in accordance with the terms of the permit.
Water Right Certificate: A Certificate of Water Right is the legal record of a water right, and is recorded at the county auditor’s office. Once Ecology issues a certificate, the water right is considered appurtenant (attached) to the land on which the water is used.; Subtle distinctions between types of water right certificates include certificates issued as a result of a judicial adjudication (adjudicated certificates), certificates issued as a result of a ground water declaration submitted to the state (declaration certificates), and certificates issued as a result of an application submitted to the state (certificates).
Water Right Claim: A claim is simply that, a claim to a water right, for a water use that predates the state’s water permitting system (for surface water, 1917/1932, for ground water, 1945). The validity of a claim can only be confirmed through judicial processes.
Certificate of Change: A Certificate of Change is a document issued by the Department of Ecology Water Resource Program or one of its predecessor agencies that changes in part or in full a previously existing water right or claim. Certificates of Change act in conjunction with their underlying document and need to be viewed along with the underlying document. For example, a Certificate of Change documenting a change to a water right claim carries the same legal standing as the water right claim; as such the validity of the Certificate of Change, like that of the water right claim, can only be confirmed through judicial processes.
Name of Record: Last known associated person/organization.
Priority Date: (1) the calendar date associated with a water right acquired by appropriation and is the date the original application for appropriation was filed with the department or its predecessor agencies, or (2) the date when intent to use water was first established as evidenced by beginning of construction or filing a notice pursuant to Washington Session Laws of 1891, c.21 for water rights based on statute prior to 1917, or (3) the date of first use of water for water rights based on common law or riparian doctrine.
Images: Scanned images of paper documents associated with a water right or well.
Meter Required: A “Y” specifies that a meter is required for the water diversion or withdrawal. An “N” specifies that a meter is not required for the water diversion or withdrawal.
Low-flow Shutoff: The water right is provisioned to discontinue diverting or withdrawing water if the source stream reaches a specified flow.
Purposes: The “Purposes” field designates the type of beneficial use noted on an application or claim and/or authorized by a water right permit or certificate.
Source: The “Source” field designates the name of a source of water as noted on an application or claim and/or authorized by a water right permit or certificate. The source information within WRTS may not always match that found on the documents. This can be due to errors within the database, attempts to group documents by source such as Columbia River pool, or for other reasons.
Source Type: The source type designates the type of gwis_rw diversion or withdrawal mechanism such as headworks, well, pump, etc.
Quantities: Instantaneous quantity (Qi) – the maximum rate of discharge or flow claimed or authorized designated in gallons per minute (gpm) or cubic feet per second (cfs); Annual quantity (Qa) – the maximum yearly volume of water claimed or authorized designated in acre feet per year (afy).; Acres irrigated – the number of acres claimed or authorized; an acre equals 43,560 square feet.

Water Right Document Control Numbers (File Numbers)

Background

In 1917 Washington established a formal permitting system for surface water. In 1945 the permitting system was extended to groundwater. The establishment of the permit system required creation of documents which had to be uniquely identified. In addition, the permit system needed to provide for documentation of water rights which existed prior to the enactment of the 1917 and 1945 water codes.

The Department of Ecology was created in 1970 and incorporated the former Department of Water Resources. Prior to 1972, each document representing a different stage in the water right process (application, permit, and certificate) had its own unique number. This created a situation where different document types could have the same number. Distinguishing the type of document was critical to the filing and numbering system.

Headings for paper documents have always indicated the document type, such as application, permit or certificate. Paper documents of each type were ordered by number and bound in numbered volumes. The document itself sometimes had a space for “Identification Number” which contained the bound volume number and page number. Ledgers, which summarized the bound volumes and provide cross references, sometimes, included suffixes such as “-A” or “-D” on the certificate numbers that did not appear on the original paper certificates. After the ground water code went into effect, an attempt was made to differentiate the surface water certificate numbers from the ground water certificate numbers by adding the suffix “-A” to ground water certificate numbers. The suffix “-D” was also used to distinguish groundwater certificates that were based on an “Application” from those that were based on a “Declaration.”

In 1972, the Department of Ecology created three new regional offices (Northwest, Southwest, and Eastern) and water right document processing was decentralized to the three new Ecology offices. Also in 1972, the Water Right Information System (WRIS) was created to computerize water right records. The computerization created a need to have unique document numbers for each record and the “Application” number was chosen as the unique identifier. These numbers were called “Control Numbers” because this number was based on the application number even for permit and certificate documents that had different numbers. The new “Control Numbers” also included some limited “intelligence” in a prefix to the document number that included a number for the region (1, 2, 3) and an S, G, or R, for surface water, ground water, and reservoir respectively. This new numbering system was also used for all new Applications. At this time the practice of assigning a different number for each stage (Application, Permit, and Certificate) was discontinued and the same number assigned to the Application was carried through to the Permit and then to the Certificate. To differentiate between the old numbering system and the new numbering system an asterisk (*) was added to the prefix (e.g., G3*12345) for documents numbered under the old system and a dash (-) was added to the prefix for documents numbered under the new system (e.g., S3-23456).

In 1974, a new Central Region, Region 4 was created from the Eastern Region, Region 3 and the water right records for the Central Region were transferred to the Central Regional Office. Because the new “Control Numbers” identified the region, the numbers within the database were modified and a plus (+) symbol replaced the dash to identify records initially created in region 3 that were now administered by Region 4. These changes were explained at the time, April 2, 1975, as follows:

All old records with an asterisk which were assigned a control number with a 3 that now belong to Region 4 have been changed to a 4. For example S3*10873C is now S4*10873C.

All new (or dash) records that have a 3 in the control number must retain the 3 since they are entered in permanent files that way. The dash (-) has been changed to a plus (+) to indicate these are Region 4 records now.

In 1995, a new Water Right Application Tracking System (WRATS) database was created and the information in WRIS was migrated to the new database. During the migration process the dash (-) was put back in all the numbers separating the source and region codes (e.g., G3) from the numbering system and regional transfer indicators (i.e., * or +). In 2003, the database changed again and the new database name was shortened to the Water Right Tracking System (WRTS). In the future, changing technology and business needs will require additional updates to the water right information systems maintained by the state and thus the “Control Numbers” will likely continue to evolve.

Basics of the Water Right File Numbering System

As explained in the background section, the water right file numbering system has experienced many changes over time and continues to change today. The information below describes some of the basic information pertinent to understanding water right documents and their control numbers (file numbers).

The Control (File) Numbers, for the most part, follow a standard format consisting of a prefix, a number, and a suffix.

Control (File) Number Prefixes

Control number prefixes have historically been used to designate the water source, regional office, and numbering system (Pre-1972 versus Post-1972). Evolving business requirements has required additional prefix designations. Also, ever-changing water sources for water rights have in some cases made these prefixes somewhat obsolete.

Source Designation: S – Surface; G – Ground; R – Reservoir; B – Both Surface and Groundwater sources (only used sporadically, no longer used); A “C” before the source designation character indicates a change document.

Region Designation: 1 – Northwest (NWRO); 2 – Southwest (SWRO); 3 – Eastern (ERO); 4 – Central (CRO); The Central Region was carved out of the Eastern Region in 1974. Pending applications, Permits and Changes were transferred from ERO to CRO. The regional notation in the control number prefix of the moved documents with old control numbers [those with an asterisk (*)], was changed from a 3 to a 4. The regional notation in the control number prefix of documents with new control numbers was left as region 3, but a “Plus” sign (+) was added. Therefore a control number with a “G3-+” designation in the prefix indicates a former ERO groundwater document that is now managed by CRO.; Certificates issued by ERO before the split (roughly between 1970 and 1974) but geographically located in the new CRO region were renumbered. Consequently, the regional designation in those control numbers is accurate.
Number System Designation: Asterisk (*) – indicates a record whose control number was issued in the old format before the information from the paper files was computerized; it signals that a cross-over table is required to locate paper or microfiche copies of the documents. The asterisk indicates that the control number was converted in April, 1972 from the old to the new format.; Records containing an asterisk in the control number indicate that the water right was given a different number at each stage. For example, the application number might be 12345, the permit number 12589, and the certificate number 18934. Under the “New” numbering system which carries the same number throughout the water right process the application number, permit number, and certificate number would all be the same (e.g., 22345).

Control (File) Numbers

Applications, Permits, and Certificates: The numbers assigned to the various documents are sequentially assigned and unique to each region. In the electronic database systems the old numbers that were less than 5 digits were adapted by adding leading zeros. For example an application number of 230 became 00230.
Adjudicated Certificates: Conversion of paper adjudicated certificate numbers for completed adjudications to the current standard format for use in WRTS (and former electronic database systems) was done as follows. Each adjudicated area was assigned a two digit number and each adjudication certificate number was assigned leading zeroes as needed to create a three digit number. Adjudication and certificate numbers were combined into a five digit number, preceded by the standard prefix indicating source and region. A suffix “J” was added following (usually but not always immediately) after the five digit number. For example: S4-59002JWRIS is from page 2 of the 59^th adjudication (Cummings Canyon).
Certificates of Change: Certificates of change numbers consist of two alpha characters (CV) followed by the volume number follow by a “P” which is short for page followed by the page number. A few Certificate of Change numbers also carry a number in parenthesis after the page number that indicates the original document that was changed by the Certificate of Change.; Volume designations: 1, 2, 3, 1-2, 1-3, 1-4, and 2-3; Example: G3-*CV1-3P45(3862) would indicate a Certificate of Change found in Volume 1-3 on Page 45 in the Eastern Region with a groundwater source that changed a certificate numbered within the “Old” numbering system as 3862.
Claims: Claims numbers consist of six or eight digits rather than five. Claims submitted to the state during open registration periods prior to 1997 consist of six digits and are numbered less than 300,000. Claims submitted to the state and accepted by the state during the 1997/1998 open registration period carry a six digit 300,000 series number. Claims submitted to the state during the 1997/1998 registration and not accepted by the state carry an eight digit number starting with 98 and are stored as inactive records within the WRTS database.

Control (File) Number Suffixes

Control number suffixes assigned during the WRIS era contain indicators of stage, splits, modifiers, and reason codes for modifiers. Today those codes remain part of the control numbers, but have lost most of their function because advancements in database technology allow that information to be tracked and recovered more efficiently from the body of the database. Split codes and some of the stage codes continue in use in WRTS era control number suffixes. Modifier and reason codes are not added to WRTS era control numbers.

The migration of data from WRIS to WRATS in the mid 1990’s resulted in an addition to the suffix of the letters “WRIS”. This code was always added to the right end of the suffix. It was only added to records that were electronically migrated from WRATS to WRIS. The intent was to mark records with this code to indicate migration had taken place with no verification of the migrated data against the paper files. Once the WRATS record is verified, the code was to be removed; however, this has not been strictly adhered to. Typically, verification takes place when the record becomes the parent document of a change application.

Stage

Stage suffixes describe document characteristics. They came into use with WRIS to overcome limitations of then current computer technology. Stage designations change as the right proceeds through the processing system. Current regional practice regarding inserting and updating stage codes may vary from region to region.

The first stage suffixes were:

Blank – Application

P – Permit

C – Certificate

S – Declaration

J – Adjudicated Certificate

Over the years the stage codes evolved. The following codes are believed to be those most recently seen in the old WRIS numbering format:

A – Application

B – Family Farm Permit

C – Certificate

D – Declaration at Claim stage

F – Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council at Permit or Certificate stage

G – Family Farm Certificate

I – Family Farm Development Permit

J – Adjudication at Certificate Stage

K – Family Farm Development Certificate

M – Publicly Owned Land Permit

N – Publicly Owned Land Certificate

P – Permit

S – Declaration at Certificate Stage

T – Temporary Authorization at Permit Stage

V – Public Water Entity Permit

W – Public Water Entity Certificate

Several of the codes above were added in late 1977 for tracking family farms, publicly owned lands and public water entities, all designated for special treatment by Initiative 59, effective December 8, 1977. The intent was that these Family farm codes would be applied only to control numbers in WRIS; they would not appear on paper document control numbers.

Split Record Modifier

Split Record Modifiers were later renamed Record Modifiers. Record Modifiers reflect water right records that must be split (for display on two or more lines in reports) due to technology limits in WRIS. Parcel subdivision (producing a “split” water right) is only one reason for use of these codes. Record modifier codes are no longer added to new control numbers and are obsolete for the most part. They provide a unique identifier for each part of the split.

The codes are:

L – Point of Diversions/Withdrawals (POD/W) are located in two or more sections

W – Two or more distinctly separate sources are used (e.g., Well and Unnamed Stream)

T – Two or more different periods of appropriating for the same purpose of use

M – A single certificate or permit lists specific quantities for specific uses for two or more parties

C – A single certificate is issued for two or more permits, claims (declaration or adjudication statement of), or application

P – Two or more certificates are issued from a single permit or claim

A – Two or more permits are issued from a single application

I – Point of Diversions/Withdrawals are located in two or more WRIA’s

R – Point of Diversions/Withdrawals are located in two or more counties

D – Duplication of numbers at any stage as a result of a clerical mistake

B – Abandonment or relinquishment of a portion of the right

S – Part of the water right goes to certificate; balance remains as permit

E – Two or more POD/W from the same source with specific quantities from each

G – Specific quantity for specific use from specific source

K – Combination of any surface water record with any groundwater record

F – Specific quantity from specific source

Status

J – Superseded by adjudication

H – Applications or permits in a holding status

R – Application rejected

C – Permit cancelled

Q – Certificate relinquished

V – Certificate voided and superseded by another certificate

E – Certificate or permit in error, change is required

N – Adjudicated right decreed but no certificate issued because of failure to pay fees

I – Adjudicated right decreed and certificate issued, but right is to remain inchoate until water is actually put to beneficial use

B – Partial relinquishment

S – Amended or superseded

Stream Gauges

Name of Gauge: Descriptive name of the stream gauge flow station
Code: The code identifying the stream gauge flow station issued by the agency that provides reading for the stream gauge flow station.
Latest Flowrate: Latest available flowrate in cubic feet per second
Date/Time: The date and time when the latest flowrate data was provided.
Link: The url from which the data for the stream gauge flow station was harvested.
Rule Minimum
Rule Link