The Okanogan is a robust river valley where water is the lifeblood. The Okanogan’s headwaters begin deep in British Columbia flows to Lake Osoyoos just north of the Canadian Border. Once the river enters the United States it is joined by its cousin the Similkameen River to form the mainstem Okanogan, before it glides into the Columbia. The key word in the Okanogan Valley is diversity, describing the people, the agriculture and the landscape. The Okanogan is the last stop for anadromous fish of the Columbia and has plentiful habitat for bears and bees alike.
Public – Private Partnership
WRC has partnered with a landowner and Okanogan County to facilitate a water right change that would permanently transfer 30 acre-feet per year to the Trust Water Rights Program, contributing to the primary reach of the Okanogan River for instream flow purposes. The landowner is also transferring about 22 acre-feet per year to Okanogan County for road maintenance and construction activities. Additionally, the landowner will keep 34 acre-feet per year for his own irrigation purposes. This project is a great example of how WRC’s collaborative approach to water resource management can be good for fish, the economy, and the well being of Washington residents.
