WHATCOM COUNTY, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – Water adjudication is officially underway for most of Whatcom and parts of Skagit County.

The Washington Department of Ecology filed a general adjudication for the Nooksack River Basin and adjoining areas in Whatcom Superior Court on Wednesday, May 1. The court’s new software delayed its acceptance of the filing until Thursday, May 2.

The Department of Ecology’s adjudication manager, Robin McPherson, calls it a legal process that’s needed to resolve local water management issues.

“Local water use in this area has been in conflict for many years. And many local groups and leaders have worked on solutions to the high demand on water, but even with many sophisticated people working together over the years, no solution has been reached,” McPherson said. 

McPherson also says, “At its heart, adjudication is simply a legal requirement to provide information.”

The Department of Ecology has mailed out 30,000 informational postcards to water users, but no action is required at this time. Water users will receive a summons in coming months with instructions for filing their claims. MyBellinghamNow previously reported on the new water adjudication process in a new series titled “Adjudi… what?!”.

Those who are connected to a water utility will not have to participate directly in this program.

Adjudication will be handled through Whatcom Superior Court, which has appointed an interim judge to help expedite the process.