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County proposes update to Coordinated Water System Plan; requests up to $75,000 from aquifer protection funds
Summary
County water resources staff asked commissioners to approve an update to the county’s Coordinated Water System Plan (last updated 1999). Staff proposed using aquifer protection area funds, estimated at up to $75,000, to produce the regional update and to compile current water‑system boundaries; staff estimated a 16‑month project timeline.
Spokane County water resources staff on Sept. 23 briefed commissioners on a proposed update to the county’s Coordinated Water System Plan (CWSP), which serves as the county’s regional water coordination document and a water element of the comprehensive plan.
Amy Sucker, Water Resources Manager, told commissioners the CWSP was last updated in 1999 and needs administrative updates to remove out‑of‑date elements, clarify roles among county departments, and update mapped boundaries for more than 90 water systems. The update would also align the CWSP with the county comprehensive plan update that is underway.
Staff proposed using Aquifer Protection Area (APA) funds to pay for the update and estimated a maximum cost of about $75,000 to cover staff time, outreach to water purveyors, GIS boundary updates and coordination with planning and the board. The project timeline was estimated at up to 16 months to allow for statutory review periods and coordination with the Department of Health and local water utilities.
Sucker told commissioners that most local purveyors use the Spokane Valley–Rathdrum Prairie aquifer and that APA funds are appropriate for planning and enforcement activities tied to groundwater protection. Staff asked the board to adopt a resolution initiating the CWSP update under county authority (RCW cited in the briefing) and said water utility coordinating committee recommendations would be returned to the board and planning commission in 2026.
Ending
Commissioners signaled support for the update and asked staff to bring a formal resolution for the board to initiate the CWSP update and commit APA funding. Staff will engage water purveyors and return with draft text and updated boundaries for public review and planning commission consideration.
