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Benton County / Franklin County
Water Conservancy Boards
DATE : August 12 , 2024 TO :
Ms . Ria Berns , Program Manager , WRP-Ecology rber461 @ ecy . wa . gov Mr . Tom Tebb , Director , OCR-Ecology gteb461 @ ecy . wa . gov Mr . Dave Christensen , Dep . Manager , WRP-Ecology dave . christensen @ ecy . wa . gov
Interested Parties , Water Conservancy Boards
FROM :
Darryll Olsen , Ph . D ., Chairman , BCWCB dolsenecon @ AOL . com Mark Nielson , Board Director , FCWCB mark . nielson @ franklincd . org
SUBJECT : Ecology-Water Resources Program ( WRP ) Comments on Strategic Plan , 2025-2029
The release of the WRP Strategic Plan , 2025-2029 , prompts several questions not fully explored in the implementation measures for proposed goals .
Most specifically , the emphasis on providing resilience to climate change impacts to water supplies calls for reforms to the water code :
“ to better and more equitably manage water resources … and , if needed , seek additional authority to advance water conservation measures and more efficient use of existing water resources .”
It is recommended that the most effective climate change response action the WRP can take is to affirm an objective to support water right changes / transfers and related water marketed activity — under current water management statutes . Radiate this objective throughout the WRP before contemplating complex legislative code revisions .
There is a high level of flexibility in the exiting water code to enhance access to water supplies , if managers and technical staff clearly perceive an underlying objective — to do more , not less , with changes / transfers .
cc :
Benton-Franklin County Commissioners
BCWCB , 3030 W . Clearwater , Ste . 205-A , Kennewick , WA 99336 509-783-1623 , DOlsenEcon @ AOL . com