WHATCOM COUNTY, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – Hundreds of water users in Whatcom County have filed their claims for adjudication as the deadline draws closer.
Jimmy Norris with the state Department of Ecology tells My Bellingham Now that just over 1,600 people have filed court claim forms.
It comes as the deadline to file is on May 1.
While Ecology doesn’t know how many people will file before that deadline, it estimates that about half of the roughly 30,000 who were served claim forms actually use water.
Adjudication for the Nooksack River Basin is characterized as a massive lawsuit that will legally determine who has water rights
Ecology is continuing to offer workshops and individual appointments to answer questions and help water users fill out their claim forms.
Whatcom County Public works has scheduled two upcoming drop-in events at the Lynden Library on Feb. 18 and 25.
