ECOLOGY LAUNCHES COLUMBIA RIVER DROUGHT INSURANCE PROGRAM

The Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology) is launching the Columbia River Drought Insurance Program to assist in providing water for curtailed irrigators during the next Columbia River drought. Currently, the next Columbia River drought declaration will put 400 water holders’ access to water in danger of being shut off. If a drought is declared, landowners with junior water rights, or interruptible water rights, would have their water shut off to preserve it for senior water rights and fish.

The Columbia River Drought Insurance Program will allow junior water right holders the ability to lease water during drought years. Ecology is looking at securing the water from Lake Roosevelt which has 33,000 ac-ft to draw from. In addition, Ecology is purchasing more water rights and entering into lease agreements to increase water availability.

To aid this program, Ecology has a plan but needs to have water right holders complete a Columbia River Drought Insurance Program Survey to assist them in efficiently responding to a Columbia River Drought Declaration. They have partnered with Western Water Market to develop this survey for interruptible water right holders with the intention of updating contact information, learn about drought year needs, and answering questions.

Ecology and Western Water Market have also prepared a drought preparedness checklist to help interruptible water right holders in preparation. The checklist can be found here.

TAKE THE COLUMBIA RIVER DROUGHT INSURANCE PROGRAM SURVEY HERE!