City water staff told the Dec. 1 study session that 2025 was the Yakima Basin's third consecutive drought year and recounted Ecology's October curtailment orders for senior irrigation rights. Rebecca Springer said Ellensburg's groundwater sources were not directly curtailed but hydrologic links mean groundwater use can affect surface flows, prompting voluntary conservation measures and public outreach this year.

Springer said the city is participating in the Yakima Basin Integrated Plan through groundwater-storage and municipal subcommittees and is advancing an Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) feasibility effort. "We have $180,000 in Ecology grant funding that will support this effort in 2026 and 2027," Springer said, noting $30,000 carried forward from a prior ASR study will be folded into the work and staff hope to prepare for a pilot study.

Staff also proposed increasing public outreach and education and considering a water-conservation demonstration garden to show drought-tolerant landscaping and water-wise practices; a council member referenced a Wenatchee demonstration project that worked with WSU Extension as a model for community engagement.

Staff conveyed that drought conditions are expected to continue and described ASR and conservation as long-term strategies to bolster groundwater and surface flows, with follow-up reporting planned in 2026.