2007 Tributary Water Rights Auction

History

1905 water users, tributary flows

Prototypes

2001,2005 drought auctions

Deschutes River Reverse Auction

Australian Bush Tender

Funding

Department of Ecology and Columbia Basin Water Transaction Program/BPA

GOALS
Wise expenditure of public funding
Transparent process
Improve knowledge of market pricing for water rights
Streamline the process of doing deals
Partnership between public and private entities, i.e., non-profit organizations and Ecology
Measurably improve instream flow,fish passage, and habitat values in priority tributary streams
Improve flow and water quality in the Yakima River below Parker
Improve knowledge of water right auctions in Washington State

Passage
- Summer low flow, critical riffles
- Culverts, dams, diversion structures

Fish Presence
- Species diversity, ESA listings
- Acquisition timing – migration windows
- Rearing & spawning
- Trophic relationships – Increased diversity

Future Conditions
- Does the project facilitate barrier removal?
- Riparian restoration efforts
- Supplementation potential