The Walla Walla Watershed Management Partnership is working to maintain a long term perspective, and embrace creative problem solving and fairness in a unique pilot program passed by the Washington State Legislature in 2009. This innovative voluntary program created under Chapter 90.92 RCW operates under the belief that the key to augmenting stream flows for fish is for water users to employ greater local control and flexibility beyond what conventional water water management options and regulation can deliver.

The Partnership is doing this by working with water users to develop and implement reach-scale “Flow from Flexibility” local water plans and by operation of the Walla Walla Water Bank which accepts agreements for water conserved in local water management plans, agreements not to divert, voluntary contributions and mitigation transactions.