WR Budget 2023 presentation - Laserfiche WebLink

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WATER RESOURCE FUND 403 2023 Water Mitigation Budget The Water Resources (WR) Fund utilizes funding from water mitigation fees, water metering fees, and grant sources to administer two programs: water mitigation and water metering. These two programs protect Kittitas County's water supply which in turn safeguards existing groundwater users ensuring that Kittitas County maintains an adequate water supply for future needs. As part of the Kittitas County water mitigation program, the County administers a water right portfolio and allocates mitigating rights from this portfolio for indoor residential domestic and small-scale outdoor irrigation. The County also has agreements with private banks, enabling us to allocate private mitigating rights to County residents. The metering program tracks groundwater use, ensuring that water use remains within the amount allocated. The Water Resource Manager develops water supply and banking policies and programs and manages water right acquisitions. The Water Resources Specialist reviews and issues mitigation certificates, manages applications to Ecology for water use changes, and oversees the metering program. Program development for 2023 will include water right acquisition which will alter the county's agreement with the Department of Ecology. This will allow the county to: • Provide water mitigation for municipal use • Perform further technical evaluation of areas within red and yellow zones for water mitigation suitability • Continue implementation of the consumptive use pilot project and, • Participate in the Yakima Basin Integrated Water Resource Plan for long-term water supply purposes.