News

From enhancing flows for fish during drought to protecting water instream forever and advancing new conservation methods, 2023 was a big year in our work to restore and protect rivers and streams across Washington. Check out some of our conservation impact highlights in this post!

At Washington Water Trust, we're laser-focused on what makes a stream a stream: the water! For 25 years, our supporters have helped us restore flows when and where needed most. With the growing demands on our freshwater and climate change, however, we need your help to do more. Give back to the rivers and streams you love by making a tax-deductible gift to WWT. All donations will be matched up to $15,000 through Dec. 31!

Washington Water Trust announced that Amazon Web Services, the Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe, and other community partners supported a drought relief program in Clallam County on Washington’s Olympic Peninsula that enhanced stream flows to help ensure healthy salmon runs in the Dungeness River. The Dungeness River is one of the most productive and critical salmon-bearing rivers in the Puget Sound region.

2023 began with promise for Washington’s rivers and streams. Reservoirs were full, soils were refilling with slowly melting snow, and Washington skiers were enjoying the slopes later in the season than usual. However, three months later, Washington was facing the reality of yet another extreme drought. What happened? And how would water resource professionals respond?

We have good news to report from eastern Washington! We recently closed a major water right acquisition in the Walla Walla River Basin and streamflow monitoring is showing that our long-term efforts to keep the Teanaway River flowing in the face of climate change and drought are succeeding.

Today, I am eager to tell you about Tida Rau, our Sustainable Waters Intern from The Bill Lane Center for the American West at Stanford University, who was nothing short of phenomenal in her role. A member of the Yakama and Lummi nations, Tida possesses a rare fusion of academic prowess and deep cultural understanding. Remarkable individuals like Tida are who will guide us on the path to a sustainable water future.

Washington Water Trust was founded in 1998 to forge a new path for restoring water to local rivers and streams. More than 25 years and hundreds of water transactions later, our collaborative approach continues delivering incredible results! Explore our 2022 Annual Report and get current on Washington Water Trust.

In case you missed it, Governor Inslee signed into law legislation that supports the Walla Walla Water 2050 plan in May. It is a significant milestone in efforts to improve stream flows and sustainably manage water supplies in the Walla Walla River Basin.

In case you missed it amid all the headlines of wildfires, heat domes, and reservoirs drying up around the world, here in Washington our Department of Ecology declared a drought emergency in 12 counties on Monday. The rest of the state is under a drought advisory. This drought will be hard on Washington’s fish and we’re working to reduce its impact.

“We are encouraged by all of you – our friends, supporters and partners – that see the writing on the wall; that recognize the urgent need to put water back instream so that our rivers, streams, fish, and communities here in Washington can be more resilient; so that we can have water flowing abundantly in our landscapes, bringing us joy and feeding our spirits.” - James Kraft, Executive Director