Walla Walla Water Exchange

Since spring of 2007, Washington Water Trust has worked cooperatively with the Department of Ecology and Walla Walla County to develop mitigation requirements for certain new well users in the Walla Walla Basin that support water for people and water for streams through a "mitigation exchange."

An amended instream flow rule for the Walla Walla Basin was adopted in August of 2007. Washington Water Trust worked with Ecology and Walla Walla County to develop a mitigation plan revolving around the purchase of water which will be transferred to the State Trust Water Program and held in a water exchange which then allows new home builders to pay a set fee to the water exchange (cost of their portion of water acquired to mitigate) and in turn pump water from their well for use outdoors for gardening, watering and swimming pools.
In order to facilitate the start up of the Walla Walla Water Exchange, WWT will be acquiring water rights in key drainage zones throughout the basin over the course of the next year for mitigation. WWT will also administer the water exchange during the start up phase.

Where:

Washington side of the Walla Walla Basin

What:

WWT developed a water exchange to benefit streams, aquifers and mitigate for new exempt well users as part of implementation of the Instream Flow Rule.

Who:

Washington Water Trust developed a water exchange to benefit streams, aquifers and mitigate for new exempt well users as part of implementation of the Instream Flow Rule.

Why:

To balance new human water resource needs with the need to protect and restore Walla Walla Basin streams and the shallow gravel aquifer.

When:

When Design phase 2007, exchange operational May 2008

Washington Water Trust

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Walla Walla Water Exchange

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