Wednesday, August 4, 2021
Introduction
In the western United States, water law developed around two main principles: (l) the goal of full beneficial use of water, and (2) the need to afford vested water right holders certainty as to their rights. At the time western water codes developed, these goals were seemingly in harmony rewarding those who needed the water and invested in infrastructure for water use with rights that were enforceable against subsequent appropriators. Over the decades, as water needs and demands were reshaped by changing land use priorities, economics, and technology, these principles began to conflict with each other. Water right holders who had initially beneficially used water, and thus were afforded certainty regarding their future water use through water rights, no longer consistently used the water to which they were entitled. Thus, state water regimes were adjusted to enforce beneficial use requirements through abandonment and forfeiture laws
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While part of state likely to avoid drought, still concerns over Washington farm country
(Photo courtesy of Washington State Department of Ecology)
Despite a relatively warm, dry winter, the Cascade mountain snowpack is strong, which is good news for parts of the state because it could help avoid a drought.
The state Department of Ecology says the snowpack has created a healthy outlook for areas that depend on spring snowmelt for their water supply. Unfortunately, places that rely more on rain and groundwater are expecting trouble, particularly Eastern Washington’s farm country.
The abundant snowpack is good news for the Yakima River Basin, but the current dry spell will impact soil moisture in wheat-growing and pasture areas of Southeast Washington. Dry conditions are causing concern for the Chehalis Basin as well, which is dependent on rain to feed the rivers and streams and recharge aquifers.