Washington's Water Future

Following the Governor’s announcement of the Washington’s Water Future initiative, Ecology has been directed to lead statewide conversations. Beginning in summer 2026, we will host regional roundtables with Tribal governments, local governments, agricultural groups, industries, utilities, environmental organizations, and community groups.

These conversations are designed to:

• Share local challenges
• Identify what’s getting in the way
• Highlight practical ideas and solutions that work for different regions

Washington’s Water Future helps support these discussions and build stronger partnerships statewide. By bringing together many different voices, we can identify shared priorities and shape future policy, planning, and on‑the‑ground actions.

Multiple paths to progress

There are many ways to approach this initiative together. Some of the topics we will explore as we solve this include:

• Aquifer recharge
• Reclaimed water
• Water storage
• Conservation and efficiency
• Wetland restoration
• Floodplain restoration
• Region‑specific strategies to build resilience

These tools can help communities adapt, improve water reliability, support habitat, and strengthen long‑term watershed health.

Next steps

We’re hosting a series of opportunities for different groups of people:

• Public input sessions (virtual)
• Interest-group input sessions (virtual)
• Tribal input sessions (virtual)
• Regional roundtables with invited stakeholders (in person)

Updates and summaries from these engagements will be provided through our email list.

We are also participating in meetings of existing water collaboratives in different basins like the Chehalis, Dungeness, Icicle Creek, Yakima, and Walla Walla. Upon request, we will meet in government-to-government meetings with Tribal governments. 

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