Thurston County secures $2.4M Ecology grant to buy water rights for salmon recovery and climate resilience

Thurston County staff told commissioners that the county has been awarded a Department of Ecology grant of roughly $2.4 million to purchase water rights from the TransAlta Water Bank for streamflow restoration and climate resilience.

CPED staff (presenter) said the grant will fund acquisition of up to 840 acre‑feet of water and that the county plans to dedicate those rights permanently to instream flows in the Skookumchuck and Chehalis rivers. The staff presentation said the purchase would more than meet the basin’s offset requirement of 500 acre‑feet per year for permit‑exempt wells through 2040 and would add nearly 300 additional acre‑feet for salmon recovery and longer‑term resilience.

Staff described the package as the state’s first climate‑resilient water‑rights acquisition, combining modeling, tribal engagement and targeted timing to maximize ecological benefits. The county said it obtained the grant without a local match and is drafting purchase agreements with TransAlta; the board was told it will be asked next year to review purchase and sale documents.

Why it matters: Dedicated in‑stream water is a direct tool for improving habitat and summer low flows important to salmon. Staff said the acquisition both satisfies legal mitigation needs for new wells and provides an opportunity to allocate additional flow for ecological benefit.

What’s next: Staff will finalize the purchase agreements with TransAlta and bring grant acceptance and contract documents to the board for review in the first quarter of next year. Communications staff were asked to coordinate a public announcement so the county’s role can be clearly explained.

Direct quote from staff: "This water would be permanently dedicated to instream flow in the Skookumchuck and Chehalis Rivers," and the package "represents the state's first climate‑resilient water rights acquisition."