In a new letter to Washington State Department of Ecology Director Casey Sixkiller, 18 state farming organizations criticize the department’s new practice of denying permission for sensible, formerly-routine changes allowing farms to use water more efficiently
(EVERSON, Wash.) Already struggling with years of drought and an unfolding viability crisis, Washington state farmers are calling out hypocrisy in state policy. While Governor Ferguson and the Department of Ecology are publicly promoting state water conservation efforts, the Department of Ecology has begun blocking farmers from making important, common-sense water efficiency improvements.
The idea is simple: farmers want to grow more food, without using any more water. As a matter of routine, farmers had for decades modified the details of their water rights–with the state Department of Ecology’s permission–to accomplish this. This kind of change, commonly called a “spread,” allows a farmer to irrigate additional acreage while using the same amount of water under their water right. In many cases, these changes are made possible by more efficient irrigation systems and new farming practices.
Now, 18 farming organizations across the state have signed a new letter to Casey Sixkiller, the department’s director, criticizing Ecology’s sudden shift to begin thwarting these positive water efficiency efforts without a clearly stated reason.
“Are Ecology and Governor Ferguson serious about protecting fish, local farming and our communities from the devastating effects of drought, or is this just another political game?” asked Ben Tindall, Save Family Farming’s Executive Director. “Because right now their actions don’t match their public messaging. If Director Sixkiller is serious about drought resilience and protecting water supply, he should be directing his staff to stop standing in the way of farmers making these kinds of beneficial changes.”
Such changes not only provide an environmental benefit, but can be a lifeline for Washington farms working to diversify and improve efficiency just to survive. While farmers and top regional water experts have challenged Ecology’s new approach, so far the agency has apparently been unwilling to change course, leaving a growing list of farms unable to legally manage their water resources efficiently.
“This situation is not only discouraging water use efficiency on farms, it’s providing a bizarre incentive for a farm to consider actually wasting water, simply to protect their water rights and ability to adapt to changing markets and climate,” said Fred Likkel, Executive Director of Save Family Farming affiliate Whatcom Family Farmers. “Sadly, a return to less-efficient crops and irrigation methods appear to be the only way Ecology will allow some farms to protect the water access that they currently have. It’s crazy.”
“Governor Ferguson and Ecology Director Casey Sixkiller need to immediately direct agency staff to stop obstructing these common-sense practices. The farmers seeking these approvals are not asking for additional water, new water rights, or increased withdrawals. They are simply trying to make more efficient use of the water they are already legally entitled to use. Ecology’s current approach discourages conservation, undermines drought resilience, and contradicts the very goals state leaders claim to support. Ecology needs to return to their historical approach on these approvals, and actually work alongside farmers to protect this state’s water resources and agricultural productivity. With the current crisis we’re all facing, there’s no justification for this kind of bureaucratic obstruction,” Tindall said.