WAC 400-12-320   Five-year review.  (1) The county is assumed to be the lead agency for the watershed reranking process. The lead agency shall reconvene a watershed ranking committee at least every five years to evaluate the need to rerank based on the results of the implementation of action plans and/or new information. The lead agency must explain that conditions in its watersheds have not changed enough to warrant going through the reranking process. This review shall be conducted more frequently than every five years if a significant change occurs, such as intensified land use within the watershed, if there is an emergency situation which poses a hazard to public health or the health of an ecosystem within the watershed, or if a jurisdiction is ready to proceed with planning.

     (2) Process.

     (a) Watershed ranking committee. The lead agency shall invite representatives from interested and affected parties, including but not limited to, local government legislative authorities, special purpose districts, tribal governments, and the general public. In counties with numerous incorporated communities, committees shall include at least one representative from each population category of a city or town as identified in chapter 35.01 RCW (Municipal corporations classified).

     (b) Information gathering. The lead agency shall provide any new information on water quality, habitat, biological conditions, and land use for all watersheds in the county, as well as information on the results of action plan implementation.

     (c) Review and reranking. Using this information, the watershed ranking committee shall evaluate the initial ranking based on criteria in plan element NP-1 or on alternative methods consistent with the plan upon approval from the department. The use of consensus in the reranking process is encouraged.

     (d) Public involvement. The watershed ranking committee shall conduct its public involvement program in accordance with the provisions of WAC 400-12-220. In addition, the committee shall conduct at least one public hearing in the county on the proposed reranking.

     (3) If changes are made to the previous watershed ranking, a description and a brief rationale shall be prepared and submitted to the department.



[Statutory Authority: Chapter 90.70 RCW. 91-22-096, § 400-12-320, filed 11/6/91, effective 12/7/91. Statutory Authority: RCW 90.70.055 and 90.70.060. 88-06-053 (Order 88-01), § 400-12-320, filed 3/2/88.]