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HILARY S. FRAM <br />COMM15SIONFR OF PUBLIC LANDS <br />$1.592M GF-S <br />3 FTEs needed to develop .; <br />statewide water bank, repair and <br />replace inefficient equipment, <br />and participate in the Odessa <br />groundwater recharge project <br />will conserve this vital resource <br />for the benefit of the state and <br />people of Washington. <br />Drought Resilience and Water Banking <br />DROUGHT MITIGATION STUDY FUNDED BY THE LEGISLATURE HIGHLIGHTS <br />THE NEED FOR PUBLIC LANDS TO BE MORE DROUGHT RESILIENT <br />DNR must take steps to make our public lands drought resilient, including the ability to <br />lease water assets, to ensure our public lands and the surrounding communities receive the <br />full value and benefit of DNR-managed water assets. DNR currently manages over 3,000 <br />water rights that deliver at least $17 million annually in revenue to DNR beneficiaries and <br />programs. The estimated value of all DNR water <br />rights is over $1 billion. <br />A 2022 drought mitigation report identified several <br />areas to prioritize for public lands to be more <br />drought resilient, including implementation of a <br />statewide water bank, funding critical water <br />infrastructure improvements, and identifying water <br />conservation opportunities throughout DNR's <br />public lands. <br />DROUGHT RESILIENT INVESTMENTS ANP WATER LEASING AUTHORITY <br />$1M Capital Authority to Lease Water and Implement a State-wide Water Bank — DNR's agency <br />request legislation authorizing the agency to lease excess water, implement water banking <br />Funding for the Odessa Ground to protect its water rights from relinquishment, and move water around faster in periods of <br />Water Replacement Project and drought. This will also allow DNR to lease water to other entities to provide drought relief <br />a water rights portfolio audit, in small, rural communities heavily reliant on agriculture while generating non -tax revenue <br />for beneficiaries. <br />CONTACT <br />Brian Considine <br />Legislative Director <br />Cell 360-764-0013 <br />brian considine@dnr.wa.gov <br />Olgy Diaz <br />Deputy Legislative Director <br />Cell 360-918-3555 <br />olgy diaz@dnrwa.gov <br />Fund Critical Water Infrastructure Improvements <br />$550,000/biennium will fund necessary repairs to <br />DNR's water aging infrastructure for more effective and <br />efficient water systems on DNR lands. Failure to make <br />investments now could lead to current infrastructure to <br />fail resulting in lost crops and lost economic <br />opportunities for our agriculture lessees and trust <br />beneficiaries. <br />Odessa Groundwater Recharge Project <br />$500,000 in capital funding to participate in the <br />Odessa Groundwater Recharge project, This funding will allow DNR to construct the on - <br />farm infrastructure and pipelines required to access the main lateral for pipeline EL 84.7 <br />M <br />Establishing a Water Usage Monitoring and Compliance Program <br />Monitoring water usage, conducting inspections, and managing large-scale projects related <br />to water management and drought mitigation. Review water usage and lease compliance <br />by 2029 vv< Jl allow DNR o proteci the agency's water rights and ensure we. are adhering to <br />legal water use requirements. These positions will also identify water usage inefficiencies <br />and identify conservation opportunities to strengthen DNR's water rights portfolio. <br />