Join host Kristina Ribellia for a sip sesh with Katherine Taiclet of Landau Associates. With over 20 years of experience in Washington’s water world—including roles with the Department of Ecology, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, and American Water Resources Association (AWRA) Washington Section board—Katherine brings a wealth of knowledge to this conversation from her home base in Grant County.

In this episode, Kristina and Katherine highlight several timely and important events you won’t want to miss. They also take a closer look at a major achievement in regional water management: the completion of Lateral 86.4, a key milestone in the completion of the Odessa Groundwater Replacement Program (OGWRP). This project has transitioned 5,426 acres from deep-well irrigation to Columbia River surface water through the Columbia Basin Project—the largest irrigation system in the western United States. As a result, 16 groundwater wells have been taken offline, conserving an estimated 16,143 acre-feet—roughly 5.3 billion gallons—of water each year from the depleted Odessa Subarea Aquifer.

Don’t miss this essential conversation about these upcoming events and exciting updates in the Columbia Basin!

Get the full show notes here:
https://westernwatermarket.com/podcast-episode/16

Nearly 380 Columbia River water right holders are at risk of their water getting shut off when the next Columbia River drought is declared in Washington state. Are you one of them?

Join host Kristina Ribellia as she sits down with Heather Hazlett and Scott Turner from Washington State Department of Ecology’s Office of Columbia River, along with Dan Haller, PE, CWRE of Aspect Consulting, A Geosyntec Company. Together, they unpack Ecology’s groundbreaking Columbia River Drought Insurance Program—a forward-thinking initiative designed to support those affected by Columbia River drought declarations.

In this insightful discussion, our guests break down what happens when Washington state declares a drought on the Columbia River, how often these declarations occur, and who is most impacted. More importantly, they dive into how this innovative insurance program can help water right holders manage the risks of curtailment and safeguard their access to water.

Don’t miss this essential conversation. Tune in to discover what this means for you and the proactive steps you can take to prepare for future Columbia River droughts.

Get the show notes here: https://westernwatermarket.com/podcast-episode/15

Are you in need of buying or selling water rights? Join Kristina Ribellia, Western Water Market’s founder and president as she reflects on several water right transactions that she has been involved with over the last 5 years. Kristina provides invaluable insights to help you manage expectations and provides tips and tricks to help you move through your water right sale or purchase more efficiently.

Plus, get the latest on what Kristina has been up to, from sharing Selah-Moxee Irrigation District’s Surplus Water Rights Auction results to her work on the Odessa Groundwater Replacement Program.

Get the full show notes on Western Water Market at:
https://westernwatermarket.com/podcast-episode/14

Greenland is home to 10% of the world's freshwater.  Some of which is now listed for sale on Western Water Market.  Join Thomas Schumann, global expert, thought leader, and founder of Project Greenland as he shares fascinating details about this new water source that is becoming available for domestic, agricultural, hydropower, commercial, and industrial uses in the West.  From water quality to logistics, Thomas provides a candid glimpse into this rare opportunity “for people, planet, and profit.”

Get the full show notes on Western Water Market at:
https://westernwatermarket.com/podcast-episode/13

Join Kristina Ribellia and Kelsey Collins as they dive into recent activities and updates involving one of the most valuable water rights tools in the West: Washington State’s Trust Water Rights Program.  

The Trust Water Rights Program, which protects water rights from relinquishment while retaining their original priority date, fell under close scrutiny after a 2019 Seattle Times article left the public and Legislature with pointed questions.  As a result of the Department of Ecology’s swift and thoughtful response, we now have better informed and engaged stakeholders, increased transparency, helpful guidance, and sound recommendations to continue creating win-wins for water users and streamflows across the state.  Get the details first-hand from Kelsey Collins.

Kelsey Collins is the Statewide Trust Water Coordinator and Water Acquisitions Lead for the Washington State Department of Ecology's Water Resources Program. Her duties include facilitating Ecology's water right acquisitions and policy support for the Trust Water Rights Program.

Get the full show notes on Western Water Market at:
https://westernwatermarket.com/podcast-episode/12

Selah-Moxee Irrigation District (SMID) recently created a 9,000 acre-foot water bank through various conservation projects and land uses changes to help fund its $100 million conservation and modernization plan. Now, SMID is auctioning a large portion of these senior, surplus water rights through online auctions on Western Water Market. Join Nathan Draper, SMID manager, Dan Haller, SMID’s consultant, and Kristina Ribellia, founder of Western Water Market, as they dive in and lift the veil on these innovative approaches – and their informative outcomes.

RESOURCES

• SMID Auction
• SMID Water Bank & Auction FAQs
• SMID News Release

GET IN TOUCH

• Nathan Draper on LinkedIn
• Dan Haller on LinkedIn
• Kristina Ribellia on LinkedIn
• Western Water Market on LinkedIn
• Western Water Market on Facebook
• Western Water Market on Instagram
• Western Water Market on YouTube

As our landscapes, industries, and values evolve across the West, the use, need, and demand for water rights are also rapidly changing. These transitions can be complicated – and it’s clear, now more than ever – that innovation and collaboration are key. Join Alyssa Moir, an attorney with K&L Gates, as she shares two incredible examples of how rapport and innovative legal tools are creating win-wins for water right holders and water users in the West. From transforming Washington’s last coal-fired power plant’s water right portfolio into the TransAlta Water Bank to forbearance agreements in California’s Shasta River Valley, Alyssa’s insights and enthusiasm give us hope for the future.

RESOURCES

• TransAlta Water Bank
• Work with Alyssa Moir, K&L Gates

GET IN TOUCH

• Alyssa Moir on LinkedIn
• Kristina Ribellia on LinkedIn
• Western Water Market on LinkedIn
• Western Water Market on Facebook
• Western Water Market on Instagram
• Western Water Market on YouTube

Buyer beware.  Whether you are looking to buy property with water rights or own water rights currently, this is one you don’t want to miss.  Andy Dunn, water rights expert and hydrogeologist with RH2 Engineering shares the top 10 things he has observed over the past 21 years working on water rights in Washington State.  

Here are Andy Dunn's top 10 things to know before buying property with water rights:

1. Look at the entire water right record for a water right that you are purchasing (or that you hold). [3:21]
2. Don’t blindly trust a real estate agent when it comes to water rights on the property. [12:41]
3. Know that a water right place of use can be larger than the number of authorized irrigated acres. [13:45]
4. The property may only cover a portion of a water right’s place of use. [16:41]
5. Assuming that owning the property containing the well or diversion is equal to owning the water right. [19:43]
6. Purchasing a property with a permit on it, but not getting the permit assigned over to you in Ecology’s records as part of the property transaction. [21:19]
7. Know and follow the provisions on your water right(s). [25:32]
8. Be aware of the location when drilling an additional or replacement well. [31:27]
9. Keep records associated with the source of water or water use. [35:52]
10. Use a water rights attorney to help you with a water right issue. [40:10]

RESOURCES

• Work with Andy Dunn, RH2 Engineering
• Washington Department of Ecology’s water rights document search 
• Search and work with a water right attorney
• Subscribe for future podcast episodes and market updates
• Western Water Market

GET IN TOUCH

• Andy Dunn, RH2 Engineering - adunn@rh2.com
• Contact Western Water Market
• Kristina Ribellia on LinkedIn
• Western Water Market on LinkedIn
• Western Water Market on Facebook
• Western Water Market on Instagram
• Western Water Market on YouTube