Council authorizes city manager to sign drought‑relief MOU to release contract water to Yakima Basin

The City Council authorized the city manager to sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and the Washington State Department of Ecology to allow release of a portion of the city’s contract surface water into the Yakima River system as part of drought‑relief operations.

Public Works staff briefed the council on the MOU’s purpose: to make city‑owned contract water available for coordinated releases that the Bureau of Reclamation would manage in the Yakima River system. The MOU creates a framework for cooperation among the city, the bureau and Ecology and allows the city to participate in drought‑relief actions that support basin operations and fish and water‑resource needs while protecting the city’s water rights.

Council moved to authorize the city manager to execute the MOU and sign associated documents; the motion passed. Staff told council that the authorization covers this year’s actions only and that additional, time‑sensitive steps to implement releases may be needed later in the summer; staff said those steps could require special‑meeting action if timing is tight. Staff also confirmed that the MOU does not impair the city’s ability to provide water to its residents.

Why this matters: coordinated releases of stored or contract water can provide near‑term drought relief for downstream users and support fisheries and other basin needs. For Ellensburg, participating in a coordinated release helps manage regional drought risk while maintaining local water service obligations.

Council asked staff to continue coordination with the bureau and Ecology and to return with implementation steps if the bureau requests prompt action to effect a release.