:: Mission, Objectives & Activities

:: Water Quality Compliance

:: Meetings

:: Reports

:: Maps & Charts

:: Outreach Materials

:: Photo Gallery

:: Useful Links

Who we are
The Kittitas County Water Purveyors (KCWP) is a voluntary effort by area irrigation water providers to address issues affecting irrigated agriculture and to participate in water quality and endangered species efforts in Kittitas County.

Members of the Kittitas County Water Purveyors include the Kittitas Reclamation District, Cascade Irrigation District, Ellensburg Water Company, West Side Irrigating Company, other irrigation entities and private water rights holders who collectively serve more than 91,000 acres of irrigated farmland in Kittitas County.

KCWP Mission
In support of agriculture, water quality & wildlife habitat:
foster the beneficial use of irrigation water;
encourage sound water management;
advocate water storage development.

Objectives
1. Water Quality Assessment: Assess water quality of tributaries, irrigation diversions and agricultural return flows.
2. CWA Compliance: Participate in local and regional efforts that support Clean Water Act compliance for water purveyors and agriculture.
3. ESA Compliance: Participate in Resource Recovery efforts that support Endangered Species Act compliance.
4. Outreach & Education: Conduct outreach and educational efforts with water purveyors, landowners, and the public in support of the Clean Water Act and Endangered Species Act.
5. Collaboration : Collaborate with irrigation entities, conservation districts and others interested in similar objectives.

Activities
KCWP monitors irrigation and stream water quality, maintaining local control over sampling regimes and laboratory analysis of the samples.

KCWP provides educational outreach in numerous ways to a wide variety of audiences. Annually, we support and participate in Ag-day (ag education for county 4th graders), Get Intimate with the Shrub-Steppe (Kittitas Environmental Education Network's yearly local environment fair), and Science in the Classroom events. Local irrigation districts regularly ask for presentations on water quality, ESA, or CWA information at their meetings.

The KCWP have participated in numerous planning and implementation activities in the Yakima River Basin, including watershed planning; water quality total maximum daily load processes for turbidity, temperature, and bacteria; and habitat enhancement through fish passage projects, water storage discussions, and other water-related efforts.