Trust Water Rights Program
2022 Legislative Report Released
Read the 2022 Water Right Transfers, Water Banking, and Trust Legislative Report
The Trust Water Rights Program enables us to hold existing water rights in trust without the risk of relinquishment. Water rights held in trust retain their original priority date while contributing to stream flows and groundwater recharge.
We generally use the Trust Water Rights Program for two purposes:
- Temporarily hold water rights in trust to provide environmental benefits while they are not in use. For more information on temporary donations, see below.
- Permanently hold water rights in trust to address out-of-stream water supply challenges. For more information, visit our water banks page.
Temporary donations
Water right holders can temporarily donate all or part of their water right to the Trust Water Rights Program.
- Donors receive their water right back at the end of the temporary donation period without penalty.
- Water rights held in trust are not subject to relinquishment.
To temporarily donate a water right, or a portion of a water right, a water right holder submits the temporary donation form to Ecology. Once our regional office receives the complete form, we will notify the water right holder if we have accepted their water right into the Trust Water Rights Program. We will also post notice of temporary donation requests on our website.
- Temporary Donation of a Water Right to the Trust Water Rights Program (form)
- View recent temporary donation requests
Right holders may also permanently donate their water rights to trust, which may qualify as a charitable tax deduction. For more information on permanent donations, refer to the Trust Guidance and contact our region staff listed below.
Related laws & policies
- Chapter 90.38 RCW — applies to the Yakima Basin
- Chapter 90.42 RCW — applies statewide
- Policy 1010: Administration of the Trust Water Rights Program
Related links
- Advisory Group on Water Trust, Banking and Transfers - 2020 archive of meetings
- Washington Water Acquisition Program: Finding Water to Restore Streams - March 2003
Contact information
Noah Wentzel
Statewide Trust Water Coordinator
noah.wentzel@ecy.wa.gov
360-522-2777
Region trust water right contacts
Buck Smith
Northwest Region Office – Shoreline
Counties: Island, King, Kitsap, San Juan, Skagit, Snohomish and Whatcom
buck.smith@ecy.wa.gov
425-649-7147
Dan Tolleson
Eastern Region Office – Spokane
Counties: Adams, Asotin, Columbia, Ferry, Franklin, Garfield, Grant, Lincoln, Pend Oreille, Spokane, Stevens, Walla Walla and Whitman
dan.tolleson@ecy.wa.gov
509-329-3526
Kelsey Collins
Central Region Trust Water Coordinator
kelsey.collins@ecy.wa.gov
509-575-2640