Forest Practices Water Typing

Water typing is a Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) classification system of streams and other water bodies that identifies whether streams and water bodies provide habitat for fish and whether non-fish streams experience perennial or seasonal flow. Water types are used by the Forest Practices program to determine the extent and pattern of riparian buffer protection required during forest practices activities.

Forest landowners are required to determine, in the field, the type of any regulated waters identified in the forest practices rules within proposed harvest boundaries, including the area within 200 feet of the proposal, prior to submitting a forest practices application/notification. Field-verified stream typing is also required before installing or replacing stream crossing structures for road construction or road maintenance.

Landowners are encouraged to submit a Water Type Modification Form (WTMF) to DNR to make official changes to water type maps. This is the only way to update DNR's hydro-layer and water type maps. If a Water Type Modification Form is not submitted, the maps will not be updated. Water Type Modification Forms can be submitted with a forest practices application/notification (FPA/N) or as standalone documents. Check with your local DNR Region office to find out whether a Water Type Modification Form has already been submitted and approved for your stream(s).

Water Type Classifications

The following table provides a general description of the forest practices water type classifications currently in use.

Type X is a symbol on DNR maps identifying water features such as artificially created and actively maintained irrigation ditches, sanitation ponds, and pipelines that are not part of the standard water type classifications.
Type U identifies unknown water features that must be verified and classified on proposed forest practices activity maps.

Available Resources

The DNR Forest Practices Division maintains and updates the DNR Water Type Maps, which show both field-verified and non-field-verified streams. You can review water types in your area using the FPAMT mapping website. These maps are intended as a starting point for identifying streams, lakes, and ponds on your property. However, it remains the landowner's responsibility to correctly identify and classify all waters associated with a proposal. Unverified waters shown on the maps are best approximations and must be field verified before submitting a forest practices application.

Forest Practices Application/Notification

Before submitting a forest practices application/notification (FPA/N), landowners must correctly identify and classify all streams, wetlands, lakes, and ponds and describe how field verification was completed for all waters within the proposed activity area and within 200 feet of the proposal. This can be done by using the Water Type Classification Worksheet or by providing a written explanation of the basis for the determination, such as bankfull width or stream slope gradient. The Water Type Classification Worksheet (Appendix A) is included with the FPA/N Forms and Instructions. Forest Practices Board Manual Section 23 provides guidance on locating stream type breaks and identifying perennial streams, while Section 2 describes standard methods for identifying bankfull channel features.

An activity map must be submitted with the FPA/N. Maps can be printed using the FPARS mapping website or requested from your DNR Region Office. Compare the mapped water features with the streams, lakes, and ponds on your property, make any necessary corrections on the activity map, and submit it with the application. This process does not update the official DNR Water Type Map but is required for the FPA/N to be considered complete.

Updating Water Type Information on DNR Water Type Maps

To permanently record updates, corrections, or verified water types and locations, landowners and other proponents may submit a Water Type Modification Form to their local DNR Region Office. Follow the instructions provided with the form. Water type and location change proposals are accepted on an ongoing basis.

Water type update proposals must follow the definitions in WAC222-16-030 and WAC222-16-0301. Waters that meet the physical characteristics for Type F streams under WAC 222-16-030(2)(d)(i) are presumed to support fish unless a protocol survey or Interdisciplinary Team has determined otherwise. Guidance on protocol surveys and water typing is available in Forest Practices Board Manual Section 23.

Water Type Modification on Non-Forest Land

In Washington State, non-forest lands generally include areas converted to residential or commercial use, agricultural lands, low-density neighborhoods, and urban interface areas that lack managed forests. These are lands that do not meet the definition of "forest land" under WAC 222-16-010.

Landowners seeking revisions to DNR's Water Type Map should first consult their local government regarding the proposed change. If additional assistance is needed, they may request a review by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) or the Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology). DNR can assist with contacting the appropriate agency representative.

Water Type Review Team

The Water Type Review Team includes representatives from Tribes, the Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology), the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), and DNR Forest Practices. The team reviews Water Type Modification Forms within its area of responsibility. Ecology, WDFW, and Tribal representatives provide technical input, while DNR makes the final decision to approve or deny proposed modifications.

Landowners are encouraged to meet with the Water Type Review Team before submitting large batches of Water Type Modification Forms, when proposals involve complex issues, or when there may be uncertainty about applying the physical criteria for water type classifications (see the Water Type Modification Form Review Process recommendations for additional guidance). If DNR approves a proposed change, the information is incorporated into the official Water Type Map and becomes available through FPAMT and the FPARS mapping website.