Water Resources
> Yakima Basin Current Activities
Yakima Basin Current Activities
This page aggregates current and historical information
relating to Yakima River basin water management, water right
changes and transfers, trust water right acquisition and
management, and water banking.
Kittitas Basin
Upper Kittitas
Water Exchange - The Department of Ecology adopted a rule for managing ground water
resources in upper Kittitas County. There are three water banks in
the Kittitas Water Exchange that you can use to find water for your
needs; the Lamb and Anderson bank (Upper Kittitas Basin), the Suncadia
and Roan bank (Swauk Basin), and the Reecer Creek Golf Course bank
(Lower Kittitas Basin).
Upper Kittitas Groundwater Study - The United
States Geological Survey (USGS) is conducting a major study of the
western Kittitas County groundwater-flow system to provide current,
complete scientific information for making good decisions about managing
this important resource.
Yakima River Basin
Yakima Basin Water - Yakima Herald - Dave Lester
Yakima River Basin Groundwater Study
October 2011 – Final USGS report on Yakima Basin groundwater
Instream Atlas and Draft Supply and Demand Forecast - OCR is accepting comments on the Atlas and the Forecast though
October 31, 2011.
Water Buying for Camps and Cabin Owner’s in the Yakima Basin
Update for June 2011 - In the last few months Ecology closed on
its purchase of a 60 acre-feet per year water right. This is the same 60
ac-ft that was temporarily assigned to cover junior water right holders
in case of a drought. Now Ecology can work on permanently
selling mitigation credits based on this purchase.
Yakima Water Transfer Working Group
- The Water Transfer
Working Group (WTWG) is a voluntary team of agencies and water
users that meet to provide technical review of proposed water
right transfers in the Yakima basin. The WTWG process guides
applicants to those types of water right changes and transfers
that can quickly and easily gain approval from the state.
Speed, certainty and convenience are important factors for drought year
water right transfers.
Yakima Basin
Integrated Water Resource Management Plan - In June 2009, Ecology
and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation brought representatives from the
Yakama Nation, irrigation districts, environmental organizations, and
federal, state, county, and city governments together to form the Yakima
River Basin Water Enhancement Project (YRBWEP) Working Group. Its
mandate is to develop a consensus-based solution to the Basin’s water
problems. More information
Yakima River Basin Water Enhancement Project (YRBWEP) Ecology,
the US Bureau of Reclamation, other federal and state agencies,
tribes, local governments, environmental organizations, and
water users are working together to address water supply issues
in the Yakima River Basin. The Office of Columbia River is
initiating preparation of a programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
for the Yakima River Basin Integrated Water Resource Management Plan (Plan).
Yakima River Basin Surface Water Adjudication
- Draft schedule of rights, court documents list, monthly
notice/court calendar
Manastash Project
- Manastash Project, Phase I Manastash Creek
is an important Yakima River tributary, which drains a
100-square mile watershed in Kittitas County lying west of
Ellensburg, Washington. Approximately 30 miles of potential
high-quality salmonid habitat remains in the upper portions of
the watershed, which lie primarily within the Wenatchee National
Forest.
Bureau of Reclamation-
Yakima River Basin Water Storage Feasibility Study Upper
Columbia Area Office
In May 2003 the Bureau of Reclamation
initiated the Yakima River Basin Water Storage Feasibility Study
to examine the feasibility and acceptability of storage
augmentation in the Yakima River basin.
Yakima River Basin Watershed Management Planning - Lower/Upper
Yakima & Naches (WRIA 37/38/39)
Additional Information
Yakima River Tributary Reverse Water Right Auction
The
Washington Department of Ecology is seeking to buy or lease
confirmed water rights in tributary streams in the Yakima River
basin, beginning with the 2008 irrigation season. The
reverse water-right auction program is part of Ecology’s efforts to
enhance stream and tributary flows in the Yakima Basin.
Water Buying-Camps and Cabin Owner’s in
the Yakima Basin
Hundreds
of surface water users in the Yakima Basin are under court order
to cease all water use, including their in-house use, during dry
years. Many of the water users being told to shut off are camps
and cabin owners, including both seasonal and permanent
residences, that have been using surface water since the 1930’s
or earlier.
Attorney General Opinion (AGO) regarding the groundwater exemption
On September 21, 2009, the state Attorney General's Office issued a
formal opinion
regarding the interpretation of statutes exempting certain
withdrawals of groundwater from permitting requirements, and
authorizing the Department of Ecology to withdraw waters from
appropriation.
