Transcript Columbia River Water Management

WATER POLICY UPDATE
Washington Water Law 2008
LSI Conference
Spokane, Washington
April 10, 2008
Evan Sheffels
Water Policy Special Assistant
Washington State Department of Ecology
Water Resources—
Major Themes
•
Moving from time when resources seemed
infinite to recognition of finite resources
•
Competition for water will get more fierce as
population grows and demand increases
•
Market will become the most important factor
in water resources
•
Loss of snowpack due to climate change will
greatly intensify water supply problems
Water Resources—
Major “Systems” Problems
• Uncertainty of Water Rights—
Tribal, Federal, Claims, Paper, Exempt
• Costs and Complexities of Administration
• Lack of Modern Data and Data
Management Systems
• Natural Resource Base Not Protected
• Gaps in Protection of Rights, Resources
Water Resources—
Major Policy Actions—
•
Watershed Planning—Respect for Local
Knowledge—Setting the Table
•
Columbia River Program—Aggressive Pursuit of
Shared Water Supplies for People and Fish
•
Columbia Water Supply Inventory—On Time
•
Climate Action Team (Water Preparation and
Adaptation Work Group)
•
Puget Sound Partnership Action Agenda (May
5, Water Quantity Workshop)
2006 Columbia Legislation
A New Approach
• Move away from debate on the science or the
politics to create practical compromises
• Balance the needs of people and the needs of fish
• Seek out and support project packages with
multiple benefits—instream and out-of-stream
ESSHB 2860
•
New Mission: Ecology to aggressively pursue development of new
water supplies for instream and out-of-stream uses
•
$222 Million investment in new storage and conservation
– $20M Capital: initial biennium;
– $2M Operating: 15 new FTEs
– $200M - General Obligation Bond Authorization
– Water Supply Development Account: 2/3 to new storage efforts:
1/3 to other supply efforts, conservation, storage enhancement, …
•
Formula for allocating newly stored water -- 1/3 to improve
streamflows to benefit fish, 2/3 for new out-of-stream uses
SB 6874—
Real Water to Meet Real Needs
• 465 water right applications waiting evaluation, many for
over 15 years
• Municipal and agricultural sectors depend on stable water
supply
• Tribes depend on fish for cultural and economic prosperity
• Recreational and commercial fishing in the River and
downstream depend on improving fish populations
Priorities and Actions
Storage
• Smart, off-channel, multi-purpose storage
• Capture winter flows to release when needed
in summer
• Supporting:
– Feasibility analysis of Yakima
– Scoping and now appraisal-level assessments of four
potential new sites on the mainstem
– Enhancing existing Columbia Basin Project
infrastructure
SCOPE
Columbia River Water Supply Inventory
 First report sent to Legislature November 15, 2006
 Annual inventory updates (RCW 90.90.040)
 Columbia Grant Cycle Under Way—Decision Package By Summer
Long-Term Water Supply and Demand Forecast
 First report sent to Legislature November 15, 2006
 Updates every 5 years
 Climate Change Impacts Being Considered
Water Resources—
More Major Policy Actions
•
Walla Walla Initiative—Shared Commitment to
Healthy Agriculture and Restored Flows
•
Establishing Instream Flows—Local Input—
Tailored to Fit
•
Adjudications—Last Chapter in Yakima?
•
Kittitas Groundwater—Exempt Well Agreement
—Shared Protection of Rights and Resources
Water Resources—
Some Major Policy Issues
•
Exempt Wells—How to Define Governance
Roles and Responsibilities
•
Relinquishment—How to Encourage
Conservation and Water Use Efficiencies
•
Water Following Money—How to Protect
Upstream Communities from Transfer Impacts
•
Climate Change and Population Growth—How
to Prepare for Water Supply and Demand
Impacts
Looking Ahead—
Goals for Effective Water
Management
•
Water Supply and Demand Strategies Work—
We are Prepared for Climate Change
•
Information-Based Water Management
Increases Clarity—We Make Sound Decisions
•
Water Markets Re-Allocate Rights Fairly and
Efficiently—We Get Water Where Needed
•
Natural Resource Base is Protected and
Healthy—We Support Healthy Watersheds
Looking Ahead—
Goals for Effective Water
Management (cont.)
•
Water Governance is Shared and Accountable—
We Protect Rights and Resources
•
Citizens Understand Our Water Management
System—We Are All Water Managers
•
Funding Supports Modern Water Management
Systems—We Invest in Data, Delivery, Storage,
Conservation, Water Supply Infrastructure
Questions?
http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wr/cwp/crwmp.html