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    Washington’s Water

    Is there enough?

    Abundant, clean freshwater is essential to Washington’s people, communities and environment. It is also a limited resource. Commonly thought of as a water-rich state, Washington’s freshwater is at risk from overuse, climate change and increasing demand.

    What's Impacting our Freshwater?

    Fall - Winter

    Heavy rainfall feeds our rivers and streams, and snow and ice accumulates in the mountains.

    Higher temperatures cause less rainfall in the lowlands and less snowfall in the mountains, reducing the snowpack.

    Spring - Summer

    The snowpack melts to feed our rivers and streams when rainfall is scarce.

    Increasing temperatures melt snowpack, reduces supply to our rivers and streams, and leads to drought-like conditions.

    Balancing Growing Demands

    It’s About Trade-Offs
    Population
    Farming
    Fishing
    Public Health + Safety
    Recreation
    Wildlife

    Washington’s population grew by 13% in the past ten years—and is expected to grow another 13% in the next tenyears—meaning more people need more water than ever before.

    Farmers need water to irrigate their crops

    Washington’s population grew by 13% in the past ten years—and is expected to grow another 13% in the next tenyears—meaning more people need more water than ever before.

    Municipalities depend on water for drinking, sewers, fighting fires, providing power, and many other things

    People rely on water for outdoor recreation

    Fish and wildlife need water for healthy habitat

    Putting Water Back Into Our Rivers and Streams

    Land & Water

    Landscape and forest degradation has reduced the land’s ability to naturally store and release water
    WWT restores ecosystem function through improved forest management and wetland and floodplain restoration

    It's All Connected

    Depleted groundwater supplies negatively impact stream flows
    WWT replenishes groundwater which maintains the water table and infiltrates into rivers and streams restoring stream flows

    Farms & Fish

    Water used for irrigation leaves less water instream for fish
    Using the state’s Trust Water Rights Program, WWT protects water instream and restores flows
    WWT helps farmers conserve water and switch to environment-friendly water sources
    WWT facilitates improvements to farms, such as water storage and irrigation ditch piping to keep more water instream
    In drought years, WWT keeps water instream for fish using emergency water leases with farmers

    Cities & Communities

    Washington’s cities are growing rapidly – how do we meet their long-term water needs?
    WWT collaborates with municipalities on long-term water management planning
    To balance and redistribute water across the landscape, WWT operates water banks
    WWT is exploring new water sources such as recycled water

    Putting Water Back Into Our Rivers and Streams

    Ocean

    Land & Water

    Landscape and forest degradation has reduced the land’s ability to naturally store and release water
    WWT restores ecosystem function through improved forest management and wetland and floodplain restoration

    It's All Connected

    Depleted groundwater supplies negatively impact stream flows
    WWT replenishes groundwater which maintains the water table and infiltrates into rivers and streams restoring stream flows
    Ocean

    Farms & Fish

    Water used for irrigation leaves less water instream for fish
    Using the state’s Trust Water Rights Program, WWT protects water instream and restores flows
    WWT helps farmers conserve water and switch to environment-friendly water sources
    WWT facilitates improvements to farms, such as water storage and irrigation ditch piping to keep more water instream
    In drought years, WWT keeps water instream for fish using emergency water leases with farmers
    Ocean

    Cities & Communities

    Washington’s cities are growing rapidly – how do we meet their long-term water needs?
    WWT collaborates with municipalities on long-term water management planning
    To balance and redistribute water across the landscape, WWT operates water banks
    WWT is exploring new water sources such as recycled water
    Ocean
    Ocean

    Learn more about what we do.

    Our Focus Areas

    There is no one-size-fits-all solution to restoring Washington’s rivers and streams. That’s why we work hand-in-hand with partners throughout the state to craft creative solutions in the following four key areas.

    Learn More

    Rivers We Restore

    Since 1998, we have worked across the state from the San Juan Islands to the Palouse restoring water to thousands of river miles in more than 50 rivers and streams.

    Learn More

    You can get involved.

    Support Our Work