A zoning change that increases the minimum lot size in the lower Methow Valley five-fold – from 1 to 5 acres – will remain in place until the Okanogan County commissioners adopt a new zoning code. The change was enacted on an interim basis in June because the commissioners were concerned the small lots would […]
Methow Watershed
Public meetings about drought declaration
The Okanogan Conservation District, in partnership with the Washington Departments of Ecology, State Health, Fish and Wildlife, Washington State Conservation Commission, and Washington Emergency Management Division, will host two drought information open houses on May 9 and 10. The May 9 open house will be at the Twisp Valley Grange, while the May 10 event […]
State-imposed well restrictions could halt building in Methow Valley’s closed basins
For almost three decades, people building a house in one of the 30 closed basins in the Methow Valley have been able to drill a well into bedrock to assure that they weren’t drawing water from a stream already maxed out for water withdrawals.
Chewuch Canal Company objects to proposed water rights sale
The Chewuch Canal Company is objecting to a proposed sale of water rights from a ranch on East Chewuch Road to a private water banking company, claiming that the transaction seeks to transfer invalid water rights and could leave the irrigation company’s 180 …
Water availability study may limit some development in county
By Marcy Stamper Areas in Okanogan County could be off-limits for new subdivisions while the county studies whether there is enough water to accommodate additional development. The county commissioners are close to a final decision on a new ordinance that would give them the authority to create zone overlays that impose special restrictions based on […]
Proposed water rights transfer raises worries
A proposed sale of water rights from a Winthrop ranch to a private water banking company has raised concerns among some valley residents, who worry that water rights used locally for irrigation will be transferred downstream and lost for use in the Methow Valley.
Rumors of outside companies or …
Water-storage pilot project proposed for Twin Lakes
Water managers and irrigators are exploring a pilot project that would raise water levels in Big and Little Twin Lakes and donate part of a water right to increase flows in the Methow River.
If the project proved successful, it could allow new out-of-stream uses from October through March when water isn’t used for irrigation. Those …
Methow-area snowpack holds steady as winter recedes
Although winter is more than half over and snow is receding in the Methow Valley, snowpack is holding up well in mountains surrounding the valley and throughout Washington, unlike areas further south in the Pacific Northwest.
Watershed Council hosts series of public meetings on water rights issues
The Methow Watershed Council is sponsoring a series of free community discussions about issues affecting water rights in the Methow Valley, beginning this weekend. The lower valley meeting will be on Sunday (Sept. 10) from 1 – 3 p.m. at the Community Center in Methow. The middle valley meeting will be next Wednesday (Sept. 13) […]
County hopes to resume issuing building permits soon, after several months of delay
After a several-month-long hiatus in issuing building permits for houses that depend on a well for water, Okanogan County has started reviewing applications and hopes to begin issuing permits by the end of March.
Three dozen building permits have been on hold as the county worked out an approach for complying with …
