Publication Summary

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. These individuals and camp representatives understand that future shut-offs are inevitable and have asked the State Legislature for help. The Legislature responded by passing Senate Bill 6861 directing the Department of Ecology (Ecology) to report on "the issues surrounding competing users of surface water in areas where domestic water use has been curtailed by a court order and to suggest legislation or other solutions for resolving conflicts over limited water resources."