The Water Adjudication

For those that don’t know, the State of Washington is pursuing a water adjudication process involving approximately 30,000 Whatcom County landowners, requiring them to prove their water rights through a lengthy legal process.

 

The Impact

 

• Farmers face uncertainty about access to water. No water: no farms.

• Property owners will be forced to hire legal representation

• Significant financial burdens will be placed on families and businesses

• The process could take decades to resolve

 

How Long Could It Last?

Current estimates suggest 10–20 years, but history tells a different story.

 

The Yakima adjudication involved approximately 4,000 claims and lasted more than 40 years. With 30,000 claims in Whatcom County, the process could take even longer.

 

Water is life. Without reliable access to water, farming becomes impossible, our salmon population risks extinction which harms Tribes, the environment, and our fishing industry, businesses can’t operate, and homeowners lose value.