WATER RESOURCE INVENTORY AREAS (WRIA)

By Tom Wimpy

We all can agree that preserving our water resources is important to the lifestyle we enjoy in the Pacific Northwest. In order to protect the waterways, the state divided the state into 62 watershed units called Water Resource Inventory Areas. Various city agencies, county agencies, conservation districts, water purveyors and private citizens (or lake associations) formed committees across the state to inventory the watersheds, make a plan addressing water usage and how to protect the water for the future.

So what does all this mean to us at Diamond Lake? As we develop on the lake and around the lake, it is very possible that we are contributing to the problems encountered downstream from us. So what do we do about this?? First, start educating ourselves to the potential solutions such as shoreline buffer zones, proper fertilizer (and other chemical) use on the lawns, getting involved in water conservation efforts because our water resources are limited, stay informed on the Pend Oreille County Planning committee decisions and start thinking about how we can preserve this beautiful place we live and play in.

Diamond Lake is in WRIA 55. The WRIA committee also includes part of the Spokane River (called WRIA 57) so the joint WRIA 55/57 plan had representatives from Spokane County, the Pend Oreille Conservation District, Pend Oreille County Planner, the cities of Spokane, Liberty Lake, and many others. This committee has been meeting for at least two years developing the initial plan required by the state. Last year, the plan was accepted by Spokane, Stevens and Pend Oreille county commissioners. The next task is to develop a detailed implementation plan using the accepted plan as a guide. This task is now taking place with Spokane County taking the lead.