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Department of Ecology News Release - Nov. 24, 2003
03-226
OLYMPIA - The Department of Ecology has invested $4.1 million to keep billions of gallons of water flowing in five river basins where fish populations are most at risk.
Since 2001, Ecology has spent $2 million to permanently acquire five water rights in the Yakima and Walla Walla watersheds, returning 4,284 acre-feet of water in areas key to fish survival. A single acre-foot of water contains 325,851 gallons - enough to cover a square acre of land 12 inches deep.
Interim Ecology Director Linda Hoffman said most of the water rights have been acquired from farmers, who typically use the water to irrigate crops.
"We appreciate how the agricultural community is stepping forward to help keep rivers flowing," said Hoffman. "Together, we are showing that there are creative ways to meet the needs of fish without causing farmers to lose a paycheck."
All but one of the water-right purchases were part of broader agreements done in partnership with the federal Bureau of Reclamation. The Bureau bought land for habitat restoration, while Ecology acquired the accompanying water rights to protect fish.
Ecology also worked in partnership with the Bureau, the Bonneville Power Administration and Washington Water Trust to reach 57 water-right lease agreements with farmers and irrigators in the Columbia, Dungeness, Methow, Walla Walla and Yakima River basins to forgo growing all or part of a seasonal crop. The department spent $2.1 million to keep more than 4,300 acre-feet of water flowing in the basins.
The agency works closely with state Fish and Wildlife Department to identify streams and reaches where putting water back will make the biggest difference for fish. Boosting stream flows helps provide better passage conditions for adult salmon and trout, and improves the quality and quantity of available spawning and rearing habitat.
Hoffman said that water-right acquisitions are part of an overall strategy to help restore 16 basins across the state where fish runs are most at risk due to inadequate stream flows. Finding ways to conserve drinking and irrigation water and setting and achieving stream flows also are important.
Participation by water-right holders is strictly voluntary. Water-right holders can sell, lease or donate their rights, to be held temporarily or permanently in state trust. Ecology has received five water-right donations since 2001.
According to Hoffman, during dry years such as 2001 and 2003, the investments "helped make the difference between helping fish populations recover and losing some fish runs entirely."
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Media contact: Curt Hart, Public Information Manager, 360-407-7139, or pager 360-971-9610
For more information about Washington's water acquisition program: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wr/instream-flows/wacq.html
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
