Comment period
SEPA Determination of Nonsignificance
Auvil Fruit Orondo Ranches Water Bank
Feb. 24, 2026, 12:01 a.m. - March 26, 2026, 11:59 p.m. PT
Ecology's Office of Columbia River issued a SEPA Determination of Nonsignificance for the Auvil Fruit Orondo Ranches Water Bank. The DNS means Ecology determined the proposal is unlikely to have significant adverse environmental impacts. The agency is seeking public comments on this determination.
The project includes the following actions, which will result in creation of a private water bank:
- 30 applications to change existing water rights, accepted by the Douglas County Water Conservancy Board on Dec. 8, 2025, which will, if approved, result in the creation of trust water rights.
- Six applications for new water right permits, accepted by Ecology on Jan. 23, 2026, to be mitigated by the trust water rights created through approval of the change applications.
- A water banking agreement between Ecology and the proponents that will document the terms under which Ecology will hold the trust water rights in the State Trust Water Rights Program and process applications for new permits mitigated by the water bank.
Comment online
- Submit your comment by email: Scott.Turner@ecy.wa.gov
Comment by mail
Scott Turner
1250 W Alder St
Union Gap, WA 98903
1250 W Alder St
Union Gap, WA 98903
Questions
Scott Turner
Operations Section Manager, Office of Columbia River
Scott.Turner@ecy.wa.gov
509-454-4238
Operations Section Manager, Office of Columbia River
Scott.Turner@ecy.wa.gov
509-454-4238
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