Whatcom County property owners who received notices about the WRIA 1 water rights adjudication have an opportunity to get free, one-on-one help completing their claim forms this Thursday. Technical experts will be available at the Blaine Public Library, 2390 Peace Portal Drive, on Thursday, April 16 from 1 to 5 p.m. Both scheduled appointments and drop-in visits are welcome.
The WRIA 1 adjudication is one of the largest and most complex water law proceedings in Washington State history. In May 2024, the Washington State Department of Ecology filed a basin-wide adjudication for surface and groundwater rights within Water Resource Inventory Area 1, which covers the Nooksack River system and surrounding drainages throughout Whatcom County. The adjudication will legally determine and prioritize all water rights in the basin, affecting farms, rural residences, municipalities, and tribal water interests.
Claim forms are due June 1, 2027, giving water users more than a year to prepare and submit their documentation. However, the forms can be complex, requiring water users to describe their historical and current water use, provide location information, and document their legal basis for the water right. The state notified affected water users by certified mail or through newspaper publication between March 2025 and March 2026.
To reserve a one-hour appointment at the Blaine library session, call 360-778-6314. Drop-ins are also welcome during the 1 to 5 p.m. window on April 16. Whatcom County Public Works noted that additional help sessions are scheduled across the county throughout April, making this one of several opportunities for residents to get support.
Additional April clinic dates and locations are available through the Whatcom County website. Residents in other parts of the county, from Ferndale to Sumas to Lynden, should check those listings for a more convenient location if Blaine is not practical.
The stakes in the WRIA 1 adjudication are significant for Whatcom County. The Nooksack River and its tributaries supply water to farms that produce much of the county's agricultural output, including raspberry and dairy operations that are central to the local economy. The adjudication will also affect smaller rural property owners who rely on wells or small surface water diversions for domestic use and irrigation. Failing to file a claim could jeopardize a property owner's ability to assert their water rights in the future.
For anyone who has received a notice about the adjudication and is uncertain what it means for their property, Thursday's clinic at the Blaine library is a no-cost opportunity to sit down with someone who can walk through the paperwork step by step. The technical experts staffing these sessions are familiar with Whatcom County's specific water systems and the adjudication process requirements.
More information about the WRIA 1 adjudication, including FAQs, maps, and the claim form itself, is available at the Whatcom County WRIA 1 resources page at whatcomcounty.us/4282. Residents are strongly encouraged to review the materials and attend a help session well before the 2027 deadline.
