OLYMPIA, Wash. (RFD NEWS) — In Washington state, agricultural leaders are working to get ahead of potential water shortages by seeking public input on policies to help secure future water supplies. The state’s Department of Ecology has launched “Washington’s Water Future,” a new initiative aimed at collecting ideas on how to keep water supplies available for long-term use.
The Washington State Tree Fruit Association says it is time to accept that conditions have changed.
Just recognizing that it’s not a short-term problem that will go away and go back to normal, necessarily,” says John DeVaney. You know, after four years of water flow management issues and resulting in declared drought, it is definitely time to start thinking about adapting to what the weather pattern is now.”
DeVaney says the effort will rely heavily on input from farmers and ranchers across the region.
While no specific proposals have been finalized, he says water storage options are likely to be part of the discussion.
“Where we’re going to have a chance, as ag and as other stakeholders around the state, to give input on what kinds of investments and changes might be necessary to make our water management and irrigation systems more resilient,” DeVaney added. “The fact that Ecology and the Governor’s Office are pointing to that Yakima Basin Integrated Plan as a model for these kinds of discussions statewide, to me, indicates that additional investment in storage is definitely under consideration.”
DeVaney says collaboration with state officials will be key to ensuring reliable water supplies for agriculture, while noting that such investments often provide broader system-wide benefits.
