WASHINGTON WATER TRUST

WATER RIGHTS PROGRAM: WE LEASE AND BUY WATER FROM WATER RIGHTS HOLDER, TEMPORARILY OR PERMANENTLY TO LEAVE INSTREAM, TO IMPROVE AND PROTECT FLOWS, ESPECIALLY DURING PERIODS THAT ARE CRITICAL TO THE SURVIVAL OF IMPERILED SALMON AND STEELHEAD.WASHINGTON WATER TRUST ALSO WORKS TO DEVELOP INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS WITH WATER RIGHTS HOLDERS WHO ARE LOOKING FOR A MORE COST-EFFECTIVE WAYS TO USE THEIR WATER. DRAWING FROM AN EXTENSIVE NETWORK OF PARTNERSHIPS WITH AGRICULTURAL PRODUCERS, CONSERVATION DISTRICTS, IRRIGATION DISTRICTS, LAND TRUST, LANDOWNERS, LEGAL EXPERTS, STATE AGENCIES, TRIBES AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS, WASHINGTON WATER TRUST IS ABLE TO BRING TO THE TABLE BALANCED, MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL IDEAS THAT ARE PROVEN TO WORK. WATER RIGHTS ACQUISITION AND TRANSFER IN WASHINGTON, WATER RIGHTS REPRESENT LEGAL AUTHORITY BY STATE, FEDERAL AND TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS FOR WATER RIGHT HOLDERS TO WITHDRAW SURFACE OR GROUNDWATER FOR MULTIPLE USES. WATER RIGHTS IDENTIFY THE SOURCE OF WATER WITHDRAWAL, HOW IT MAY BE USED, WHEN IT CAN BE DIVERTED, HOW MUCH CAN BE DIVERTED, AND ITS SENIORITY RELATIVE TO OTHER RIGHTS IN THE SAME WATERSHED. IF WATER IS EVER IN SHORT SUPPLY, AN INDIVIDUAL HOLDING A "SENIOR" WATER RIGHT MAY BE THE ONLY ONE ABLE TO DRAW WATER FROM THIS SOURCE. THE RIGHT TO USE WATER MAY BE TRANSFERRED FROM ONE USER TO ANOTHER, AND RIGHTS CAN BE BOUGHT AND SOLD. ACQUISITION IS AN IMPORTANT TOOL FOR STREAMFLOW RESTORATION BECAUSE WATER RIGHTS MAY ALSO BE PURCHASED AND TRANSFERRED TO THE STATE TRUST WATER PROGRAM WHERE THEY CAN BE PROTECTED AGAINST WITHDRAWAL FOR FLOW RESTORATION. THE WATER TRUST ENGAGES IN THE PURCHASE, LEASING AND SALE OF WATER RIGHTS IN PRIORITY BASINS AS A STRATEGY TO BENEFIT FLOW AND HABITAT. FOR MORE DETAIL ON WATER RIGHTS AND THE PROCESS OF ACQUISITION AND TRANSFER, SEE ORGANIZATION WEBSITE. WATER BANKING WATER BANKING REPRESENTS A MANAGEMENT TOOL TO PROVIDE FLEXIBILITY TO WATER USERS. SOME REGIONS OF WASHINGTON HAVE POPULATIONS AND ASSOCIATED WATER USES THAT HAVE GROWN TO CAPACITY; HERE THE STATE MAY DETERMINE THAT NO MORE WATER RIGHTS CAN BE ASSIGNED BECAUSE RIVERS AND AQUIFERS ARE BECOMING DANGEROUSLY LOW. THESE DETERMINATIONS, CALLED INSTREAM FLOW RULES, RESERVE ANY EXTRA WATER IN A SYSTEM TO ENSURE BALANCE TO THE TOTAL SUPPLY. WHEN NEWCOMERS TO THESE AREAS WISH TO START USING WATER, E.G., TO PROVIDE FOR A NEWLY BUILT HOME, THEY WILL NEED TO MITIGATE FOR THIS USE BY FINDING AN EXISTING WATER RIGHT (OR USE) THAT CAN BE RETIRED. WATER BANKS OF EXCHANGES TO HELP THESE AREAS OF SCARCITY WITH RESTORATION AND SUSTAINABLE GROWTH. A WATER BANK PURCHASES WATER FROM WILLING SELLERS, GETS THE WATER RIGHTS VETTED AND APPROVED BY THE STATE AND TRANSFERS THE RIGHT TO THE STATE TRUST WATER PROGRAM. THE WATER BANK MAY THEN SELL A MITIGATION CERTIFICATE FOR WATER USE TO INDIVIDUALS OR COMPANIES SEEKING TO MITIGATE THEIR WATER USE. OFTEN, A WATER BANK WILL PURCHASE A LARGE WATER RIGHT UPSTREAM, THEN "SHAVE OFF" SMALL PORTIONS OF THAT RIGHT FOR SALE TO NEW WATER USERS WHILE RESERVING THE BALANCE FOR FLOW RESTORATION. WASHINGTON WATER TRUST MANAGES WATER BANKING PROGRAMS IN SELECT WATERSHEDS. FOR MORE DETAIL AND AN EXAMPLE OF WATER BANKING, SEE WASHINGTON WATER TRUST'S WEBSITE. CONSULTATION: WATER MANAGEMENT ALTERNATIVES, CONSERVATION AND WATER RIGHTS ASSESSMENT WATER RIGHTS IN THE WESTERN UNITED STATES ARE MULTI- DIMENSIONAL, AND CRITICAL TO ECOLOGY AND THE ECONOMY. THE WATER TRUST WORKS WITH WATER RIGHT HOLDERS, E.G., PROPERTY OWNERS, IRRIGATION DISTRICTS OR MUNICIPALITIES, TO PROVIDE A THOROUGH UNDERSTANDING OF THEIR RIGHTS. DEVELOPING WATER MANAGEMENT ALTERNATIVES MEANS WORKING WITH DIVERSE AND OFTEN COMPETING INTERESTS TO FIND SOLUTIONS THAT CAN WORK FOR ALL. SOLUTIONS MAY INCLUDE FINDING EFFICIENCIES IN HOW PEOPLE USE WATER. CHANGING WHERE WATER IS SOURCED, OR ALTERING HOW AND WHEN WATER IS USED, FOR EXAMPLE, CAN HAVE HUGE IMPACTS ON HEALTH. SPECIAL DROUGHT- YEAR CONSERVATION INITIATIVES WHEN THE SEASONAL WEATHER IN WASHINGTON IS PARTICULARLY DRY, THE IMPACTS ON THE STATE'S RIVERS AND STREAMS CAN BE DEVASTATING. DROUGHT- YEAR CONDITIONS BRING INTO SHARP RELIEF THE IMPORTANCE OF EFFICIENT WATER USE AND THE LIMITED SUPPLY OF WATER. DURING DROUGHT YEARS, THE WATER TRUST LAUNCHES SPECIAL INITIATIVES TO KEEP AS MUCH WATER AS POSSIBLE IN RIVERS AND STREAMS. THE ORGANIZATION IDENTIFIES HOLDERS OF HIGH- IMPACT WATER RIGHTS AND NEGOTIATES SHORT- TERM LEASES OF THESE RIGHTS DURING CRITICAL SUMMER MONTHS. WASHINGTON WATER TRUST'S LEASED FLOW STAYS IN- STREAM TO BENEFIT WATERSHED AND RESIDENT WILDLIFE HEALTH.