Public Health

Water Resources

The Yakima River Drainage Basin, which comprises the majority of Kittitas County, is fully-appropriated. There is no water available for new appropriations. Senior water rights are defined with priority dates prior to May 10, 1905. All later priority dates are junior and are at risk of curtailment during drought years, whether they are surface water or ground water uses.

Kittitas County is also currently under a compliance order from the Growth Management Hearings Board which requires the county, among other things, to employ measures to protect the quality and quantity of surface water and ground water resources.

The county has negotiated a settlement proposal with the appellants in the Growth Management Hearings Board case, including the Department of Ecology (Ecology). As part of the settlement, the county agrees to consider regulations which will require mitigation for new uses of ground water in Lower Kittitas County residing in the Yakima River Drainage Basin. The proposal implements this requirement in two phases.

Kittitas County Water Resource Links

Kittitas County Water Bank Documents

No documents found

Interim Measure Kittitas County Water Mitigation

Phase 1 (Interim Measures):

  • 18 month duration commencing on June 2, 2014. The end of the Interim Measures will be December 1, 2015.
  • Mitigation will be required for all new uses of ground water for domestic (including lawns and gardens), commercial, irrigation and industrial purposes within the areas of Lower Kittitas County inside the Yakima River Drainage Basin with regard to Total Water Supply Available (TWSA).
  • Kittitas County may offer mitigation for new domestic uses related to a building permit application through a county-secured leased water right.
  • New uses mitigated through the county’s program will be limited to indoor domestic and up to 500 square feet of outdoor use only.
  • Building permit applicants will be required to record their water use restrictions as a deed restriction prior to a building permit being issued.
  • Upper Kittitas County will remain under the regulations imposed by Chapter 173-539A WAC.

Permanent Measure Kittitas County Water Mitigation

Phase 2 (Permanent Measures):

  • Replaces the Interim Measures at the conclusion of the 18 months.
  • Mitigation will be required for all new uses of ground water in all of Kittitas County inside the Yakima River Drainage Basin.
  • Mitigation will only be valid if it is determined to be water-budget neutral by Ecology.
  • The county may continue offering leased water for mitigation if it meets the water-budget neutrality standard for up to five years from the date of the new regulations (including the Interim Measures).
  • Building permit applicants will be required to record their water use restrictions as a deed restriction prior to a building permit being issued.
  • Metering, monitoring, and reporting of new ground water uses will be required.
  • Ecology will begin the process of repealing the Upper County Rule (Chapter 173-539A WAC) within 180 days.

Note: As part of the Settlement Proposal, the county is also agreeing to obtain mitigating senior water rights for all current junior domestic ground water uses in the county and hold them in perpetuity. The appellants are agreeing to support this settlement in front of the Growth Management Hearings Board and to defend it from any outside litigation. Ecology will also assist the county in setting up a publicly-operated mitigation program.