The Partnership is now a Qualified Local Entity (QLE) under the Columbia Basin Water Transactions Program (Transactions Program), enabling the Partnership to conduct innovative water transactions throughout the Walla Walla basin for instream flow enhancement. The Transactions Program is managed by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, with funding from the Bonneville Power Administration to support QLEs in flow restoration from water rights leases, acquisitions, efficiency investments and other voluntary, incentive-based approaches. The Partnership joins ten other QLEs working in the greater Columbia River Basin (Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana) in the Transactions Program’s effort to support innovative, voluntary, grassroots water transactions that improve flow.

With funding available through the Transactions Program and the Washington State Department of Ecology, the Partnership is reaching out to landowners and water right holders in Walla Walla County and Columbia County to assist them in evaluating options for participation in water right transactions. The new Transactions Program provides funding to compensate water right holders for trusting or banking their water rights through non-use agreements and other innovative transactions. The Transactions Program uses a set of approved criteria to evaluate proposed water transactions, ensuring water right leases or acquisitions are appropriately compensated for the quantity of ‘wet’ water available to trust for instream flows. Chris Hyland, the Partnership’s Program Director for Water Management Programs, is working with water right holders on water transactions, including those eligible for financial compensation under the Transactions Program.

Contact Chris Hyland at 509.524.5217 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to review your water rights to find the Partnership program that can work best in your situation.