Building on the successful 2023 designation of Washington’s first-ever Outstanding Resource Water (ORW) protections for the Cascade, Napeequa, and Green Rivers, the Protect Washington’s Waters Coalition has nominated four additional watersheds for this critical water quality designation. The four nominated areas are:
- Ruby/Granite Creek (138,000 acres) – A biodiversity corridor connecting North Cascades National Park and the Pasayten Wilderness, providing habitat for grizzly bear, wolf, wolverine, and lynx, while supporting rivers with outstanding fisheries and recreation.
- Upper Sultan River (43,000 acres) – The primary drinking water source for Everett and more than 670,000 residents of South Snohomish County, this area would gain added protection for old-growth forests and water quality above Spada Reservoir.
- Upper Lewis River (149,000 acres) – Identified by the EPA as a key thermal refugia for the Columbia River, this watershed supports coho salmon, steelhead, and bull trout flowing through old-growth forests between the Mount Adams and Indian Heaven Wilderness.
- Methow Headwaters (430,000 acres, Methow Valley) – Encompassing the upper Methow, Lost River, Early Winters Creek, and Upper Chewuch rivers, this nomination would support clean water to irrigate family farms, provide drinking water for the community and habitat for native fish, and recreational opportunities—from fly fishing to backcountry skiing and hiking.
All four nominations received eligibility confirmation from the Washington Department of Ecology (WDOE) in April 2026. WDOE is expected to initiate formal rulemaking in July 2026, leading to a tribal and agency consultation period through mid-2027, followed by a 70-day public comment period and a final designation decision by late 2027.
The coalition’s outreach strategy prioritizes early and meaningful engagement with area Tribes, local governments, recreation groups, outdoor businesses, and rural communities. Coalition partners — including Methow Valley Citizens Council, Cascade Forest Conservancy, American Whitewater, and Washington Wild — are each leading regionally rooted efforts to build broad-based support.
