Tim Flynn Sits on Scientific Risk Management Panel at the 24th Annual Water Law in Washington Conference

In late July 2015, the Washington Water Law Conference brought together water law practitioners, water users, and other experts to discuss current issues in Washington State’s water law. Aspect president and principal hydrogeologist Tim Flynn participated in a joint panel presentation on “Science vs. the Precautionary Principle: In what areas can more study lead to different decision making?” The presentations explored the technical and regulatory policy implications of reduced data collection and basic science in a resource constrained era on water right decisions.  The precautionary principal was illustrated through case studies of established instream flow rules and the challenges associated with limited stream flow data particularly in snow-pack driven watersheds such as the Methow River Basin.  Topics covered by other panelists included integrated water resource management issues and Ecology’s water right decision framework.