Series of regional roundtables will inform conservation proposals ahead of 2027 legislative session

OLYMPIA — Today, Governor Bob Ferguson and the Washington State Department of Ecology announced the launch of Washington’s Water Future, a statewide initiative to ensure Washington has an enduring supply of water for generations to come.

Following the declaration of a statewide drought for a record-breaking fourth consecutive year, this initiative aims to improve sustainable and resilient water supplies to support affordability, housing and a strong economy. Challenging climate trends demand the state take a more proactive, holistic and collaborative approach to identifying and advancing solutions.

“We have some of the best water supply in the nation because the generations before us had the foresight to protect it – but climate change is jeopardizing that,” Governor Ferguson said. “We need to work together now to plan for the future.”

Ecology will host a series of regional roundtables with local and Tribal governments, industries, utilities, environmental groups and community groups to hear about their successes and challenges. Their experiences and feedback will inform ideas for new water supply policies and recommendations that Ecology will submit to the Governor before the next legislative session.

“We can see climate change happening all around us, and it’s reshaping our way of life. Now is the time to be bold and come to the table. We need to work together to identify creative solutions that can help us prepare for the next 100 years,” Ecology Director Casey Sixkiller said.

Already, communities across Washington are pursuing a range of solutions. Some are beginning to plan for their future water infrastructure needs by capturing and storing water underground, pursuing novel conservation methods and reclaiming wastewater for outdoor irrigation. Currently, many financial and regulatory barriers exist to broader adoption of these solutions. The roundtable recommendations will aim to provide efficient and effective service to solve our water challenges now.

“This is our water and our future that we’re talking about. Water is critical to our way of life. We are compelled to do this for today, but also for those who come after us,” Ecology Director Casey Sixkiller said.

Washington’s water supply

Washington’s snowpack is no longer a reliable water supply source – climate change has made it an obsolete model. Historically, the state has relied on deep mountain snows to accumulate over winter, then gradually melt during spring and summer, helping to fill streams and rivers and replenish reservoirs.

Now, winter flooding and summer droughts are more common. These conditions cause rivers to run low and water temperatures to climb, creating harsh conditions for fish and other aquatic species.

The latest climate projections by the University of Washington Climate Impacts Group indicate conditions will only get worse in the years ahead. More rain in the winter will continue to increase flooding risk, while less snow will reduce how much water is available for people and fish in the summer. This will be a statewide problem, including for the traditionally ‘wet’ western Washington.