What We Can Learn
“Those who cannot remember the past
are condemned to repeat it”
– George Santayana
Water adjudications have taken place all over the country. Some adjudications have been successful, like the Yakima Basin Integrated Plan (YBIP), others like the Klamath have been more contentious and challenging. As Whatcom County navigates the Department of Ecology’s suit against water rights holders, Water for Whatcom encourages leaders to follow the example set by the YBIP. Through collaboration and negotiation, our community can develop comprehensive water resource management solutions to mitigate the loss of fish, farms, businesses, and important community relationships.
The Yakima surface water adjudication began in 1977 in a case known as Ecology vs James Acquavella. Stakeholders spent several expensive decades in court talking through lawyers, until 2008, when the primary opposing parties decided to speak one-on-one outside of the courthouse in the parking lot. This encounter was a pivotal turning point in Yakima’s adjudication process, widely known as the “parking lot moment.” The direct communication between Roza Irrigators and the Yakama Nation resulted in the formation of a work group composed of stakeholders committed to developing fair water management solutions for everyone at the table.
“It’s an amazing collaboration of all of these different agencies with all of these different interests, coming together and realizing that we can’t just focus on our [own] agendas,” – Joe Blodgett, a fisheries project manager for the Yakama Nation.
“It’s an amazing collaboration of all of these different agencies with all of these different interests, coming together and realizing that we can’t just focus on our [own] agendas,” – Joe Blodgett, a fisheries project manager for the Yakama Nation. NYT Article
Once there was a commitment to collaborate, the workgroup was able to request the tools and resources they needed to address the water shortage in the Yakima Basin. These lessons can help Whatcom County’s community navigate our own water resource challenges, empowering stakeholders to make holistic decisions based on the priorities of the whole community.
Today, the Yakima Basin Integrated Plan is composed of tribes, fisheries, irrigation districts, state agencies, local agencies, and others dedicated to continuing the process and furthering the trust and collaboration between stakeholders. Their work has yielded exponential benefits for their community, unlocking federal funding to support projects for fishery restoration, economic productivity, municipal and domestic water supply, recreation, and drought and climate resilience.
As Whatcom County navigates our issues, whether they be the ongoing water rights adjudication or plans to address increased funding, we have the opportunity to begin with collaboration, making our own process easier and more advantageous for everyone in our community.
But this will only happen when each party comes to the table to collaborate and negotiate – understanding that no one will get everything they want, but everyone will get what they need.
Watch the YBIP’s presentation to the Whatcom County Business and Commerce Committee to learn more about where they began and their accomplishments to date.
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