advertisement
Columbia-Snake River Irrigators Association
Water Policy Issues and Actions for 2023
DATE : March 2023 TO :
WA State Gov . Jay Inslee ; Governor ’ s Office Policy Staff Comm . Hilary Franz , WA State Dept . of Natural Resources WA State Legislators and County Commissioners
SUBJECT : Washington State Water Policy and U . S . Irrigated Agriculture ______________________________________________________________________
Perhaps it is time for the Governor ’ s Office and state elected leaders to recognize that Washington ’ s Irrigated Agriculture Industry does not exist in a geographical vacuum .
Western U . S . Irrigated Agriculture Industry and Climate Change .
• The Western U . S . Irrigated Agriculture Industry is composed of direct irrigated agriculture production , agricultural services , and food processing sectors . It has developed across a span of three centuries .
• Climate change impacts in the West ( are ) shall reduce large blocks of irrigated acreage in several regions by 2025 , due to declining surface and groundwater supplies . This includes regions within the Colorado River supply system ( including Imperial Valley , CA ), much of Southern Oregon , and much of California ’ s Central Valley .
• Across the West , industry managers now view climate change as an inalterable reality , and new management strategies are being forged . Many irrigation sector climate change refugees see a future — in Washington ’ s Greater Columbia River Basin area , including parts of Idaho and Oregon . This should not be perceived as a “ threat ” for the Industry , given more capital , joint ventures , and market outlets offered to irrigators .
Washington State ’ s Water Policy — Change Is Needed .
• So , are the state ’ s principal water resources managers aware of the West-wide attention being placed on Washington ’ s future role in the Irrigated Agriculture Industry ? Are elected leaders prepared to set new agency objectives and direction ?
• The future of the U . S . Irrigated Agriculture Industry resides in the Columbia River Basin Region ; and it shall depend significantly on effectively optimizing existing water rights to meet growing irrigation , food processing , and community demand . This must become a first priority for state water resources management .
• The Office of Columbia River-Ecology must be given independent operational control to make Mainstem decisions , working with the county Water Conservancy Boards .
CSRIA , 3030 W . Clearwater , Ste . 205-A , Kennewick , WA 99336 Contact : 509-783-1623 , CSRIA . org , or dolsenecon @ aol . com