Student project by Zoe Pfeifer
Overview
The Yakima River Basin in central Washington is one of the most productive agricultural regions in the United States. However, limited water supplies—especially during drought years—have made water rights a critical issue for farmers, tribes, communities, and ecosystems. Water is allocated based on a seniority system, meaning some users receive full water deliveries while others face significant cutbacks during times of water shortages.
Different Water Rights
Tribal Reserved Rights
- Not subject to reduction during shortages
- Oldest and most senior claims to water
- Water use includes fisheries, cultural practices, irrigation, and habitat needs.
Senior Rights
- Higher likelihood of receiving full water allocation
- Older farms (pre-1905)
- Commonly grown trees, hops, and other crops that require a consistent and reliable water supply
Junior Rights
- Reduced amount of water
- Newer farms (1905-present)
- Growing crops such as alfalfa and corn which are considered flexible because they can be planted annually and are more tolerant of fluctuating water supplies
Policies
Yakima River Basin Water Rights (RCW.90.38, RCW.90.42)
This provides the legal foundation for managing water in the Yakima River Basin through the
Trust Water Rights Program, which allows water to be conserved or transferred while
keeping its original priority date. The law also enables conservation contracts and guides
the Integrated Water Resource Management Plan, which coordinates efforts around
storage, habitat restoration, and flexible water sharing.
Water Markets & Reallocation
The Yakima Basin Integrated Plan allows water rights to be traded or leased, which
allows users temporarily or permanently shift water—for example, from farms to cities or to
support river ecosystems. This flexibility helps reduce economic losses during droughts and
encourages more adaptive, cooperative water-sharing across the basin.
Yakima County Water Resource System (YCWRS)
A local program ensuring new developments demonstrate legal water availability (e.g. for
exempt wells) via mitigation and water purchase strategies consistent with Basin
priorities.
Tribal Rights
Court rulings have affirmed Yakama Nation’s in-stream fish rights with “time immemorial”
priority, reinforcing the environmental protection component of water law in the basin.
Impact
Due to differences in water rights, farmers with junior rights often face serious challenges during drought years. In 2021, junior water right holders received only 43% of their expected water allocation, forcing many to leave fields unplanted and suffer significant income losses. Meanwhile, senior water right holders continued to receive their full allotment, highlighting the growing disparity in access during times of shortage.