WHATCOM COUNTY, Wash. – As drought conditions worsen and stream flows plummet in the wake of an historic heatwave, Whatcom County farmers are calling for all parties involved in local water issues to come together to collaborate on urgently-needed solutions to the Nooksack River basin’s water management problems.
Improved water storage management, stream augmentation, water use efficiency improvements and many other projects could help restore salmon runs and preserve local farming in just a few years, according to a statement from Whatcom Family Farmers.
The group says antiquated laws and court rulings stand in the way of much of that work.
Executive Director Fred Likkel says the water rights adjudication that the state Department of Ecology is pursuing would basically “push snooze” on solving the real water management problems for as long as 30 or 40 years or more.
Ecology’s Director Laura Watson emphasized last week the need for the state to focus on drought resiliency and develop more water storage.
Many of the Nooksack Basin’s water management problems are tied to the system’s lack of water storage options.