Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - November 19, 2002
Contact:  Michael Marchand, Governor’s Communications Office, 360-902-4136

Gov. Locke Addresses Management Issues at Watershed Planning Conference

Gov. Gary Locke today addressed key water management issues during a keynote address at a watershed management conference in Tacoma.

The conference, titled “Washington’s Water Future: Implementing Watershed Solutions,” was hosted by the Washington State Department of Ecology and focused on the coordination, oversight and costs of the 33 watershed plans currently being developed statewide.

“Sound water management is an important, fundamental responsibility,” Locke said. “It cannot be ignored, postponed or underestimated. Water issues, if neglected, will inevitably make their importance felt.”

Washington’s watershed planning law was adopted by the Legislature and governor in 1988 to encourage cities, counties, water purveyors and tribes to develop water-management plans for major watersheds within their jurisdiction. There are 62 such watersheds in Washington, with 42 currently involved in watershed planning.

“We must look at water supply, water quality, and fish and habitat issues in watershed planning. All of these issues are interconnected and the critical decisions should be made at the watershed level,” Locke said.

Eight watershed plans are expected to complete the four-year planning process by fall 2003.

“We owe our state as much progress as possible on important long-term issues such as effective water management,” Locke said.

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