Washington Water Project

In 2009, Trout Unlimited launched the Washington Water Project—the latest state office in a regional program that also includes Colorado, California, Utah, Idaho, Wyoming and Montana. To jumpstart WWP efforts in the state, TU acquired the Washington Rivers Conservancy, a nonprofit conservation group that has worked for years on water rights and streamflow issues.

Rob Masonis, TU's vice president for Western Conservation, said that the acquisition of WRC is part of a larger TU strategy to restore Western rivers and streams by making sure they have enough water. “Instead of waiting until our rivers and streams reach a crisis stage, TU is working in partnership with water users to keep them healthy and resilient. It's a commonsense, cost-effective approach to conservation that we believe will pay huge dividends down the road.”

The Washington Water Project provides water-rights expertise for river and stream restoration projects, partnering with landowners, land trusts, state and federal agencies and tribal entities to promote voluntary, market-based solutions to instream flow issues in the state. Working with diverse stakeholders, the WWP brings funding sources and technical expertise to strategic locations where improving flows of clean, cold water will result in cost-effective improvements to some of Washington's most important fish and wildlife habitats.

The new WWP program comes at a crucial time for Washington: As in other Western states, a host of pressures, from population growth to climate change, is challenging the state's ability to ensure sufficient water for a variety of purposes, including agriculture, fisheries and power generation. That's especially true in the semi-arid eastern half of the state.

In the face of these challenges, the Washington Water Project advocates for collaborative, commonsense water planning solutions that maintain the health of rivers, fish and wildlife habitat as well as local communities, farms and ranches.

Building Political Will

Defending Instream Flows

Restoring Instream Flows in Key River Basins

Landowner's Guide to Washington Water Rights

Before the Well Runs Dry: Water Solutions for Washington. (PDF / 938K)

NOAA Climate Change Report

Read the Northwest section of NOAA report (PDF / 422K)

Washington Water Project - Contacts

Lisa Pelly, Director
Washington Water Project
103 Palouse
Suite 14
Wenatchee, WA 98801
Phone: (509) 888-0970

Aaron Penvose, Project Manager

Szilvia Rideg, Project Associate