Kristina Ribellia Columbia Gorge Science & Management Conference April 19, 2016

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1 Kristina Ribellia Columbia Gorge Science & Management Conference April 19, 2016

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4 Apple orchard in the Roza Irrigation District, Yakima Basin. September Photo: Sonia A. Hall

5 Below 75% Average Water Availability Hardship Drought

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8 Finding and negotiating contracts for good, wet water takes time, drought years require expediency Agency/court processes can slow things down Decisions need to be made early in the year based on an uncertain future water year Flow monitoring resources are insufficient

9 2015

10 Now we have a level of trust and respect where you can do more and you can do it faster. Urban Eberhart, KRD General Manager Photo: Gordon King, Yakima Herald Republic

11 Little Creek in first week of June, before supplementation Little Creek, after supplementation Photos: KRD (left,right); Jesse Major, Daily Record (center)

12 Manastash Creek on June 10, before supplementation Manastash Creek on June 12, after supplementation Photos: Kittitas Reclamation District

13 Dungeness River Upper Yakima Tributaries

14 Open Invitation for Bids How much are you willing to ACCEPT for your water? $ /acre acre feet Water rights holders are invited to bid on how much they would like to receive per acre to fallow their land for a given amount of time. The auction host/funder will select a reserve price for the maximum amount they are willing to accept, which may or may not be revealed. You can use a scaled approach which provides higher prices for tributaries most likely to be impacted by low flows and/or based on seniority.

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16 2015 Reverse Auctions Facilitated by Yakima Tributaries (May Oct.) Ecology with assistance from WWT and TU Funded by Ecology Ecology Reserve price disclosed No No Letters sent 650 letters sent March letters sent April 1 Bids received from 16 irrigators Bids rejected 4invited to rebid, 1 accepted, 2 2high bids, 1 ineligible couldn t be processed Contracts 6 13 Acres fallowed Water leased 878 af; 4.7 cfs 350 af; 5.6 cfs Flow notes Split between Teanaway, Big, Boosted mean daily flow ~7.45% Taneum, & Roslyn Funding available $500,000 $200,000 Funding spent $59,327 $124,794 Dungeness River (Aug. Sept.) WWT in cooperation with Dungeness Water Users Association

17 Strategy is important Factors influencing participation: Familiarity with water trusts and instream flow program is a driving factor Ecology (regulator) vs. NGO ran auctions may play a role By end of March many have already made investments in their crops Whole vs. split season leasing (Yakima vs. Dungeness) Irrigators in Yakima Basin were also buying water; competing market Complex water right issues could not be resolved quickly Senior water rights were targeted, but half leased in Yakima auction were curtailed starting in August. Trust water can make all the difference between having some water and none.

18 Through existing leases and acquisitions WWT has 2.92 cfs of pre 1886 trust water in the Teanaway: 1883, 1884, cfs related to mitigation July 20, flows dropped to 14 cfs at Forks Gage, 6 cfs and Red Bridge Road and Lambert Road July 23, Ecology curtailed all junior diverters 1886 and later Almost 50% of remaining flow was trust water leased prior to 2015 Additional 1.91 cfs through 2015 auction total of 4.83 Teanaway River, July 16, 2015

19 Buck Creek, 2015

20 In 2009, WWT started leasing water from the only known diverter on Rattlesnake Creek for instream flow, including: 102 af CU and up to.59 cfs; annually April 1 Sept. 30 Benefiting 6.5 miles of habitat for ESA listed species In Dec. 2015, WWT acquired the water for permanent protection instream Funded by Dept. of Ecology and NFWF s Columbia Basin Water Transactions Program Lower Rattlesnake Creek, October Photo: Tom Ring

21 UCD, MCFEG, YN and the landowner are pursuing restoration opportunities to increase headwater storage and habitat quality Mid May flows Photos: Tom Ring

22 Recommendations for an effective drought response, flow restoration and resiliency: Ensure drought funding is available to access early and in all years Develop and update drought and climate change plans Develop and establish low flow/drought year agreements that can be easily executed Reconsider what actually may be senior water Implement projects that will provide long term or permanent solutions Start building relationships now

23 Investing in flow restoration in non drought years is critical to having a flow response in a drought year

24 Kristina Ribellia Washington Water Trust (509) Eastern Washington Office 103 East 4th Ave, Suite 203 Ellensburg, WA 98926