Water rights

For the first time in roughly 20 years, the Idaho Farm Bureau Federation will have a new CEO when July starts. Zak Miller, a 5th generation farmer from eastern Idaho will take over the position currently filled by Rick Keller, who retires June 30th ...

Many in the Washington Ag community are frustrated with the Department of Ecology.  The state Department of Ecology recently announced it has appointed public employees to represent agriculture on committees that will chart the future allocation of water in seven river basins.  Th...

On Monday, Governor Jay Inslee expanded the drought emergency declaration to cover nearly half of the Evergreen state.  The Department of Ecology said the move was made due to worsened, poor water supply conditions around the state and warmer and drier weather predictions through the summer.  Sn...

On Tuesday, the Benton/Franklin County Superior Court reversed a decision by the Washington Department of Ecology denying a water right transfer proposed by Loyal Pig LLC.  This week’s reversal order not only reinstates the water right transfer previously approved by the Franklin County Water Conservancy Board, but it also prevents Ecology from usurping water law provisions protecting the water ri

From a water and snow perspective, 2018 started off with so much promise, but much of that promise has disappeared.  Jeff Marti with the Washington Department of Ecology says thanks to a warm May, much of the area snowpack was tapped earlier than expected.  Ad...

After a dry spring, the once promising water levels in the Yakima Basin have dropped.  Thanks to not only the lack of rain, by many customers using irrigation water, the available water supply for growers in the Yakima has dropped in the past month.  ...

According to the Bureau of Reclamation there should be enough water to meet senior and junior water rights holders in the Yakima Basin this year.  The May 2018 Total Water Supply Available forecast indicates there will be enough water for all water rights this irrigation season.  ...

The Bureau of Reclamation’s April supply forecast indicates there will be enough water to fully satisfy senior and junior water rights this irrigation season in the Yakima Basin.   “The water supply outlook is very good right now,” said Chuck Garner, Yakima Project River Operations supervisor. “Even though the moun...

It only took 40 years, but the adjudication of Department of Ecology vs. James Acquavella, et all appears to nearing an end.   A final decree was proposed earlier this month that would include a draft schedule of water rights to be confirmed over the next eight months.  ...

Washington Governor Jay Inslee is touring the state highlighting projects that will not be funded due to the absence of a capital budget that was held up over negotiations on water rights.   As a last-second measure to get Senate Republicans to vote on the capital budget, Inslee and House Democrats pushed for a temporary two-year fix that he says would include some stability.  ...