Department of Ecology
Committees, Boards, and Workgroups

There has been growing interest about the purchase, sale, and transfer of water rights in Washington. We are convening an advisory group to discuss these topics through a series of meetings this spring and summer. Their input will inform our findings and recommendations that we will present to the Legislature this fall.

Water marketing and transfer activity will continue to increase in our state. As that happens, it’s essential that we chart a thoughtful path forward to build a framework that supports transparent and effective water transfers and banking, while also protecting our valuable natural resources and local economies.

Given current precautions on the spread of COVID-19, we are actively exploring options for how to conduct these meetings in a safe and productive way. Though we have planned for in-person meetings, we know the situation is evolving. We will reassess as needed and communicate any schedule changes.

Please subscribe to our email list to receive updates about this group's activities.

The meeting agenda and registration link will be sent to the email listserv approximately 2-3 weeks ahead of each meeting.

REPORT ON FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Per legislative direction, Ecology will present findings and recommendations to the Legislature by December 1, 2020.

• Ecology’s findings and recommendations on water trust, banking, and transfers.
• Please submit your comments on the report.
  • All comments received will be appended to our final report and provided to the Legislature.
  • Ecology will not be revising the text of the report based on comments. 
  • Comments are due at 11:59pm on November 15.

GENERAL RESOURCES

• Save the Date
• Program Overview
• WebEx Tips
• Link for April-July eComment submissions

MEETINGS

July 16

Agenda

Resources

• Draft Findings and Potential Policy Tools - updated

 Meeting Materials

• Presentation
• Meeting Recording
• Attendee List

June 30 - Policy Review

Agenda

Resources

• Draft Findings and Potential Policy Tools - PDF
• Draft Findings and Potential Policy Tools - MS Word

Meeting Materials:

• Presentation
• Attendee List
• Meeting Recording

June 10 - Private Investment and Marketing of Water Rights Part B: Water Banking

Agenda

Resources

• The State Water Trust and Water Banking: History and Function
• Water Banking and Water Marketing in Select Western States

Meeting Materials

• Presentation
• Attendee List
• Meeting Recording
• Meeting Notes

May 26 - Private Investment and Marketing of Water Rights Part A: Use of the State Water Trust 

Agenda

Resources

• The State Water Trust and Water Banking: History and Function

Meeting Materials

• Presentation
• Attendee List
• Post-meeting survey
• Meeting Recording
• Meeting Notes

May 7 - Transparency in Water Right Sales and Out-of-Basin Transfers

Agenda

Resources

• Background Paper on Water Right Sales and Transfers
• Roza Water Market Overview Paper
• Roza Water Transfer Overview Paper

 Meeting Materials

• Presentation
• Attendee List
• Poll Results
• Meeting Notes
• Meeting Recording

April 16 - Kickoff

Agenda

Resources

• Emerging Issues on Water Trust, Banking, and Transfers
• Foundational background: “A Landowner’s Guide to Washington Water Rights” Trout Unlimited, 2019
• “Wall Street spends millions to buy up Washington state water” Seattle Times, October 27, 2019
• “Wall Street seeks a valuable resource from Washington state’s aging farmers: their water” Seattle Times, October 28, 2019

 Meeting Materials

• Presentation - Ecology
• Presentation - Peter Dykstra
• Poll Results - Multiple choice
• Poll Results - Short answer
• Meeting Notes
• Meeting Recording
• Attendee List

ADA ACCESSIBILITY

To request an ADA accommodation, contact Ecology by phone at 360-522-0885 or email at Barbara.Brooks@ecy.wa.gov. For Washington Relay Service or TTY call 711 or 877-833-6341. Visit Ecology’s website for more information.