Columbia Basin Water Transactions Program

In Washington... Improving Land & Water

"I want our way of life to continue and be there for my granddaughter's grandchildren. My family wants to use our land to provide habitat for fish and wildlife and protect farmland from development. Conservation work is much easier when you have help to pay for it."

– Ken Maxon, Farmer

The federally-funded Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP), pays producers to fallow and restore sensitive lands. In the Walla Walla River basin of Southwestern Washington, the Washington Water Trust completed the first long-term lease of water rights from an irrigator whose CREP participation reduces his production and, therefore, decreases his water needs. The conserved water is protected instream.

In Idaho... Keeping a River Wet

"We stand to risk dewatering Fourth of July Creek so there's no connectivity between the Creek and the Salmon River. if people cut back during rough times we can keep a minimum flow going."
– Wes Wells, Landowner

The Idaho Department of Water Resources, working through the Idaho Water Bank and in cooperation with the Upper Salmon Basin Watershed Project, completed a first-time deal in the Salmon River basin of central Idaho to provide water that enhances flows for fish in a tributary to a wild and scenic river.

In Oregon...
Balancing Needs

"Regulators tend to use a stick to get results, but that can create a lot of animosity. The approach I prefer is market-based. This Water Transactions Program is all about using the market to create fairness and flexibility. In our case, we bought some time."

– David Babits, Owner, Thompson Flour Mill

To operate a small power generating facility associated with a historic flour mill in western Oregon, nearly two miles of the Calapooia River has to be dried up daily during the summer. To help address the consequences of this cycle on fish and wildlife, the Oregon Water Trust has secured funds to pay the owner of the mill to leave water instream during the driest months of the year.

In Montana... Heading to Greater Efficiency

"At first, I wasn't sure about a non-diversion deal, but it worked out well for me. As low as the creek was over the summer, I'd have used it all to water my hay. And that still might not have been enough to get the crop I needed. Funding from this program, allowed me to get the hay and keep water in the creek."
– Duane Hoxworth, Rancher

Historically, Rock Creek is the largest tributary to the North Fork of the Blackfoot River, but ironically - in dry years - it no longer reaches the North Fork. As part of a habitat restoration strategy, a producer has agreed to leave water instream and explore a long-term lease that would replace a flood irrigation system with a more efficient center pivot system.