OPTIONS FOR LANDOWNERS

MWT uses a variety of tools and approaches to acquire water for restoring streamflows. These include a variety of lease agreements, donations, and conservation agreements. Many of the acquisition methods that MWT utilizes are described below, although this is not an exhaustive list. MWT will consider other flexible agreements with water users that are mutually beneficial.

Short-Term Leases

Short-term leases, which temporarily leave water instream for one or two years, play an important role in MWT’s acquisition strategy for several reasons. First, they provide a good way for all stakeholders to “test the waters”: irrigators can see how leasing affects their water needs, and MWT can assess how effective the water rights are in protecting streamflow. Second, and most importantly, short-term leases are an excellent way for stakeholders to establish trust and strong working relationships that lead to longer-term agreements. Short-term leases play a key part of MWT’s strategy for entering new project areas where establishing longer term agreements with landowners may be more challenging.

Long-Term Leases

Leases of five or more years provide a way of establishing long-term flow protection. For long-term leases MWT prepares a “change application”, which is required by the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC).  This change application makes the change from irrigation use to instream flow official, and provides MWT and the water user the ability to enforce and protect the instream flow.  Long-term leases can be renewed at the end of the lease period or be allowed to expire, whereupon the water right reverts to its previous use.

Split-Season Leases

Split-season leases allow a portion of a water right to be used for irrigation early in the year, while leaving the remaining portion instream later in the summer.  The benefit of these agreements is two-fold: the irrigator gets a first cutting from the early season irrigation, and the stream gets additional water later in the summer, when it is needed the most. These agreements can be tied to a cutoff date or a trigger event such as streamflow levels, after which the irrigator ceases diverting water.

Donations

MWT accepts donations of valid water rights on priority streams.  These rights typically are irrigation rights that have been fulfilled historically throughout the irrigation season.

Irrigation Efficiency Improvements

MWT supports projects that result in increased irrigation efficiency, and thereby improve water quantity and quality. Such projects may involve physical or operational improvements. The water conserved by increasing irrigation efficiency might be able to be protected instream, and MWT will evaluate such potential on a case-by-case basis.  Furthermore, partnering with MWT may improve the odds of securing funding for efficiency-related projects.

Point of Diversion Change

Another way to potentially increase flows through critical stream reaches is to change the point of diversion to a location below a critical stream reach, or to utilize another source altogether. MWT will consider the merits of such projects and may assume the cost and project management required to receive regulatory approval.

Diversion Reduction Agreements

Diversion reduction agreements involve negotiating agreements with water users outside of the DNRC water right change process. The water user agrees to forego diversions during certain times if the measured flow from the tributary falls below a certain level. This option is useful in drought situations when instream water is needed quickly to sustain and protect fisheries.