Water for Washington Coalition Featured in The Capital Press
The call for water management reform by the Water for Washington Coalition (WRC, American River, and Washington Environmental Council) was highlighted in a recent article in The Capital Press.
What is Water for Washington? »
NOAA Releases North America Climate Change Report
June 19, 2009
The U.S. Climate Change Science Program and the Subcommittee on Global Change Research released the first comprehensive analysis of observed and projected changes in weather and climate extremes in North America and U.S. territories on June 19. This was the first specific assessment of climate change impacts on North America. Specifically, climate change in the Northwest United States is projected to have impacts on snowpack, streamflows, sea level, forests, and other important aspects of life in this region. (http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2008/20080619_climatereport.html)
As the science mounts, the need to adapt to a changing climate with long-term strategies and solutions becomes clearer. We need collective efforts and consensus, policy based in scientific fact, and a commitment by all to ensure that Washington has a sustainable future—for people, for our environment, and for our economy. Washington Rivers Conservancy supports efforts to address the impacts of climate change on our water resources, and continues to work towards a healthy and viable future.
Read the Northwest section of the report: http://globalchange.gov/images/cir/pdf/northwest.pdf
Check out WRC’s May Newsletter »
Governor Gregiore Signs ESSB 5585, Amending the Trust Water Rights Program
WRC and our partners worked to revise and clarify some of the language that forms the basis of the state Trust Water Rights Program, and were heavily involved in the conversations that led to a successful passage of ESSB 5583.
The amendments clarify language and increase the effectiveness of the TWRP for protecting water rights and instream flow. Some of the key changes include:
- Allowing for groundwater rights to be put into trust. This offers more flexibility for changing water rights and increases the amount of water available to transfer to trust and will also aid in enhancing stream flows.
- New language ensures that all water rights placed in the trust program retain all of the attributes held by that water right before being placed in the program. This protects the interests of water right holders who wish to use the the trust program.
- Clarifies that water banking may be used statewide and not just in the Yakima Basin.
- Provides that a instream flow trust water right in trust is considered to be "exercised."
The success of WRC's coalition with American Rivers and Washington Environmental Council in the 2009 legislative session highlights the ability of our organizations to affect significant and important changes in Olympia. Through our partnerships with the Farm Bureau, Irrigation Districts, tribes, legislators, realtors, and others, we are working to continue to this pattern of success in the 2010 legislative session with good policies that seek to balance the needs of people, farms, and fish. Our heartfelt thanks goes out to the Bullitt Foundation and the Northwest Fund for the Environment--their support made our success in Olympia possible.
Landowner’s Guide to Washington Water Rights
WRC’s first major publication is now available! This easy-to-read booklet will help to answer all of your questions about Washington’s complex water policies, will assist you in making an informed decision if you are buying or selling property, and give you a better understanding of the process of changing, selling, or donating a water right. For a printed version, please contact our office. Click here to view the guide.
“The WRC’s Landowner’s Guide is getting rave reviews from all the partners here at the William A. Grant Water & Environmental Center,” reports Kevin Scribner, Basin Advocate for the Walla Walla Watershed Alliance, one of the collaborators housed at the Center located at the Walla Walla Community College. “This Guide takes what can be a dauntingly complex—and extremely essential—subject and portrays it in way that is easy to comprehend, and with its beautiful design, is, as they say, ‘easy on the eyes.’ We plan to use for both outreach and with education classes at the College.”
KEVIN SCRIBNER | WALLA WALLA WATERSHED ALLIANCE
“The Landowner’s Guide to Washington Water Rights is the most comprehensive and user-friendly handbook providing the basics on water rights that I have seen to date in the state.”
NANCY ALDRICH | CITY OF RICHLAND
Landowner’s Guide to Washington Water Rights »
WRC Receives Signed Letters of Endorsement for Wenatchee Instream Flow Project
WRC is excited to announce the support of the Governor, the Upper Columbia Salmon Recovery Board, and Chelan County for a project aimed at improving flows in the lower Wenatchee River. The project will improve flows in the lower Wenatchee River by more than 15 cubic feet per second by changing the point of diversion for the Pioneer Irrigation District to the Columbia River, and piping and pumping the irrigation water back up to users in Monitor, WA. WRC has been working tirelessly to secure stimulus funding to get this project on the ground, and the support we have received from the State, the county, and the UCSRB, puts us one step closer to consideration for federal stimulus dollars. We sincerely thank our supporters for their interest in this project, and we will provide updates on the progress of this project as they occur.
Listen to an interview on KOHO 101.1 from February 24th
Meghan and Aaron were invited to talk about WRC's Landowner's Guide to Washington Water Rights live with Clint Strand at the KOHO radio studio on February 24. Download »
Northwest Fly Anglers Conservation Award
WRC has won a conservation award from the Northwest Fly Anglers club! The award, which comes from one of the largest fly-fishing clubs in Washington, honors an organization that the club feels is making a difference for fish by protecting or restoring fish habitat, improving access to fishing waters, or educating the public about the importance of protecting and preserving natural habitats. Thank you, NFA for your support and generous appreciation for our efforts!
