Washington Water Watch March 2025

New Year, New Challenges
A Letter from the Executive Director, Trish
Rolfe

The new year has begun, and while that should fill us
with hope and excitement, we live in unprecedented
times. A new year means new challenges

In February, the Trump administration proposed
taking water from Washington and sending it to
California. Can they even do that? No. There is no
logistical way to do that, and, legally, most of
Washington’s water is already allocated to farms,
municipalities, industrial uses, and in-stream uses like
fish, but that doesn’t mean they won’t try. The threat
is very real.

In terrifying tandem with their threats, the Trump
administration has already begun dismantling the
federal agencies we rely on to protect our clean air and
water, public lands, and waterways. This forces state
agencies like Washington’s Department of Ecology and Fish & Wildlife to take on much of the critical work without the federal government’s support. CELP will do whatever it takes to continue our work with state agencies to protect Washington’s
freshwater resources now and for future generations.

In local news, the 2025 Legislative session is underway. The state is facing a budget crisis, with many of the programs that protect our waters on the chopping block.
State policies are crucial in ensuring that our waterways receive funding and support. CELP will continue to be a voice for protecting and restoring our waters for both in-
stream and out-of-stream uses. Water is our most precious resource. We know that investing in water at the state level is essential for communities to thrive – our policymakers must understand this, too.

Washington has previously allocated millions of dollars to help restore salmon to our waterways. Now, uncertainties at both the state and federal levels are another hurdle we must overcome to ensure the government meets its treaty obligations to
Washington Tribes and fulfills its promise to protect its people and the planet. CELP has made it a priority to update Washington’s water resource policies to be more equitable and sustainable, considering the impacts of climate change, particularly on historically under-served populations. This year, one of our focuses is strategic communication and advocacy to drive awareness, influence policy, and inspire collective action in our communities. Water is an overflowing source of solutions to climate resilience. The power of local efforts cannot be ignored in our fight to build a resilient future.

We look forward to continuing to collaborate with our local partners, including Tribal Leadership, to achieve our goals. We are the only statewide organization that works full-time to protect and restore Washington’s waters. With your help, we can continue to stand up to those who would drain our rivers, streams, and aquifers for their personal benefit and prioritize sustainable and equitable solutions to the impacts of climate change on our waters.

CELP relies on donations from our supporters to continue this critical work. Your support is needed more than ever. Please consider becoming a member and donating online today.

Trish Rolfe, Executive Director | trolfe@celp.org

UPDATES

2025 Legislative Session

The Washington State 2025 legislative session has reached its halfway point cut-off for bills moving out of their house of origin. It has been a relatively quiet session for water bills, with only a few making it past the cut-off.

SB5212 passed the Senate, allowing water users in the Water Resource Inventory Area (WRIA) 1 general water rights adjudication to file new water rights claims for precode uses of groundwater and surface water. This bill moved out of the Senate with changes that made new filings subordinate to existing permits, certificates, and
claims registered before 1997.

SB5303 also passed the Senate, extending the water supply milestone for the Yakima River Basin Integrated Plan to 2035.

Several water bills didn’t make it out of committee, including:
SB5261 issued water rights permits for non-consumptive hydropower use in WRIAs where minimum instream flows are not being met. The bill was pulled from the Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee because of concerns about potential impacts on the river.

SB5470 & HB1345 would have allowed detached accessory dwelling units outside of urban growth areas, with limitations. These bills did not pass out of their house of origin but were amended to require they meet current water usage limits in statute and that each unit be metered. We are likely to see these bills again in the next legislative session.

Now, the Legislature moves on to the budget process. Unfortunately, there will likely be proposed cuts to vital water programs. CELP will follow what happens to water resource funding in both the Capital and Operating Budgets, and we will be lobbying for renewed funding for streamflow restoration and water rights enforcement.

Department of Ecology: Streamflow Restoration Watershed Plans

Streamflow restoration planning helps improve rivers and streams for salmon and provides water for rural homes in Washington.
In December 2024, after technical review and coordination with the Salmon Recovery Funding Board, Ecology adopted watershed plans for Water Resource Inventory Areas (WRIA) 7, 8, 13, 14, and 15. The planning groups in these WRIAs did not locally approve the plans by the deadline set by statute. These five WRIAs now join WRIAs 1, 9, 10, 11, 12, 22, 23, 49, 55, and 59 as having adopted watershed plans or rules ready for implementation. Ecology will initiate the required rule-making for these 5 WRIAs within six months of plan adoption.

You can review the five recently adopted plans here.

WATER IN THE NEWS

“US Pauses Water-Sharing Negotiations With Canada Over Columbia River” | The Guardian

“Trump Keeps Talking About Taking PNW Water – Is That Possible?” | The Seattle Times

“Washington Water Supply Update” | State of Washington Department of Ecology

WELCOME

Brady Johnson | Board Member

Please welcome (back) Brady Johnson to our Board of Directors!

Brady is the son of CELP’s co-founder Ralph W. Johnson and a life-long supporter of rational water policy. Brady is retired from a long litigation career, including criminal defense, civil rights, mental health and civil commitment, torts, class actions, antitrust, and consumer protection. Brady has appeared before trial and appellate courts in several states and federal trial and appellate courts in the 2nd, 3rd, and 9th Circuits and in the U.S. Supreme Court.

Brady holds a B.A. from the University of Washington and a J.D. from the University of Puget Sound School of Law. He also holds a Certificate in International Law from the McGeorge School of Law. He is a retired member of the Washington State Bar.

Brady originally joined the board in May 2015 and re-joined in February 2025.

Hannah Elzig | Administrative & Development Assistant

Please welcome Hannah Elzig, our new Administrative & Development Assistant!

Hannah graduated from the University of Washington with a B.A. in International Studies and Political Science. For her Task Force project at the Jackson School of International Studies, she co-published the report “Saving the Salish Sea: A Fight for Tribal Sovereignty and Climate Action.”

Hannah has focused her career on human rights and social justice. Previously, she worked for the International Rescue Committee as an Immigration Legal Assistant. In addition to her CELP position, she is a freelance grant writer for nonprofit organizations in the Seattle area.

Hannah is grateful for the opportunity to support CELP’s mission and advocate for environmental justice. She joined our team in February 2025.

SAVE THE DATE

World Water Day | March 22, 2025

World Water Day is an annual United Nations observance that highlights the importance of
freshwater and brings awareness to the over two billion people living without access to clean drinking water.

The theme for 2025 is Glacier Preservation, as glaciers play a critical role in freshwater
ecosystems. Washington is the second most glaciated state in the US. However, due to the
impacts of climate change, Washington’s glaciers are rapidly melting, raising the global
temperature and decreasing water supply.

Earth Day | April 22, 2025

For 55 years, Earth Day has led the world in raising awareness and taking action on critically
important environmental issues.

The theme for 2025 is Our Power, Our Plant, emphasizing the commitment to harnessing
renewable energy to build a healthy, sustainable, equitable, and prosperous future for us all. Renewable energy decreases water pollution and the risk of waterborne diseases that pose threats to humans, fish, and wildlife.

GiveBIG | May 6 – 7, 2025

GiveBIG is a statewide fundraising campaign where individuals and organizations across Washington come together to invest in our communities. As a donor, GiveBIG is an opportunity to be part of a movement of generosity.

This year, GiveBIG kicks off on April 22, 2025, starting with early giving and culminating with a 48-hour giving event on May 6-7, 2025.

Continue checking your email and our social media for more information and updates about GiveBIG.

In honor of World Water Day and Earth Day, consider taking action and donating to CELP. Your gift will directly support our mission of protecting, preserving, and restoring Washington’s waterways. As we navigate these unprecedented times, your help is urgently needed to create a sustainable, equitable, and climate-resilient future. Please donate here.