3 Of 4 Hawkins Water Rights Transfers Approved

On the face, this looks like good news. The Washington Department of Ecology approved 3 or the 4 water rights transfers sought by the Hawkins company. If I understand the story correctly, the one water rights transfer that was denied can be appealed and can be approved if the mitigation plan is modified to address the department's objections.

The Washington State Department of Ecology has approved three of four water-right transfers requested by Hawkins Companies.

According to an Ecology news release issued this afternoon, the department affirmed the Whitman County Water Conservancy Board's approval of the water-right transfers proposed from two wells north of Pullman.

This water will be used at the Hawkins development in Whitman County, just across the state line from Idaho. The company is planning to a Lowe's-anchored, 700,000-square-foot shopping facility at the site.

Ecology also approved the transfer of water from a well three miles north of LaCrosse to the city of Colton.

Ecology reversed the water conservancy board's decision to approve a surface-water diversion from the South Fork of the Palouse River because the required plan to "mitigate" or make up for impacts to Paradise Creek is inadequate, according to the release.

Ecology's decisions can be appealed to the state's Pollution Control Hearings Board within 30 days.