Spotlight on PNW Water Resources Leaders: Twisp Mayor Soo Ing-Moody

Twisp’s Mayor, Soo Ing-Moody was recently profiled in the Seattle Times to shine a spotlight on her leading this rural and vital Northern Washington State town – a world-class destination for internationally-known cross country skiing and sunny season hiking and water recreation.

Over many years, Aspect played a key part in helping secure the Town’s water rights, which the Town worked on for almost two decades to make sure sensible development proceeds in this sought-after North Washington area.

Twisp Mayor Soo Ing-Moody
Photo Credit: Mike Siegel / The Seattle Times

Under the leadership of the Mayor, Aspect helped find and negotiate the purchase of enough water rights to grow for more than 20 years. The Town and Aspect also worked with Ecology to help obtain the necessary permits to make the transfer possible.

Read more about the Town and Mayor’s leadership here.

Water Banking Takes Center Stage in Washington State 2020 Legislative Agenda

The 2020 Washington State legislative session kicked off in January and the future of water rights and water banking in the state are taking center stage in the early legislative discussions. At least six prominent bills centering around the State’s “Trust Water Rights” program are being proposed. These bills range from advocating for incremental changes to fundamentally altering how water is permitted, including ideas to prevent or add new criteria for out-of-basin transfers; set up a new “community needs” test to form a water bank; prevent conservancy boards from working on water banks anymore; to charge money for setting up and running banks to cover State time.

Why is Water Banking a Hot Topic?

There’s been an increasing public spotlight in Washington State water permitting issues, including some recent worries that out-of-area speculation is influencing the water market. A reminder that in 2017, the entire $4 Billion state legislative session hinged on the resolution of the Hirst water rights negotiations. That 2017 legislation eventually led to the 2018 Streamflow Restoration Act, which manages over $300 million dollars in state funding to address water rights and supply challenges throughout the state’s watersheds to help habitat, agriculture, and communities over the next 15 years.

Current Water Rights Resources and Information

There’s a range of informed news and opinion resources on this complex topic of water rights and water banking, here are just a few recent ones to stay informed:

Learn More About Water Banking

Aspect is heavily involved in the water banking arena, helping clients with policy (with Washington State University on the Columbia Basin Long-Term Water Supply and Demand Forecast) setting up and running banks (e.g., Oroville-Tonasket Irrigation District (OTID) and the Bourne bank, among others), and helping connect buyers and sellers at the local level.

Contact Dan Haller or Tim Flynn to learn more.

Advancing Washington State Water Law for Fish, Housing, Farming, and Industry in 2020

In November 2019, the “Foster” Task Force (referencing the name of the 2015 water rights case it was charged with reviewing) delivered its Water Resource Mitigation Report (Report) to the Washington State Legislature. As the Legislature meets in 2020, this topic may arise in the water bills that will be debated in the coming months. The Report provides an update on progress in the Task Force to define mitigation sequencing, the five “pilot” implementation projects, and how this effort is being integrated with Ecology’s Net Ecological Benefit guidance that was adopted in 2019 for permit-exempt well mitigation.

The issue of how out-of-time and out-of-kind mitigation will be evaluated and potentially codified by the Legislature is a critical question that affects future development in Washington (new housing, farming, and industry). It will also create a framework for how these important out-of-stream needs can be harmonized with fish recovery goals in Washington.

Aspect is currently facilitating two of the RCW 90.94 watersheds that are required to develop Net Ecological Benefit Watershed Plan Updates: Okanogan and Little Spokane. The Foster Task Force’s recommendations (summarized from the Task Force’s group which includes almost 20 members from state government, agencies, municipal water purveyors, tribes, farming, and advocacy groups) on mitigation sequencing may influence these plans that must be adopted by Ecology in early 2021. Aspect’s Dan Haller had the opportunity to present several mitigation projects Aspect has helped clients develop to the Task Force to help inform mitigation sequencing. Check out the report at this link to get up to speed with this emerging water issue.

Contact Dan Haller if interested in discussing the implications of this report further.

Jill Van Hulle Joins Aspect's Preeminent Water Rights Team

Jill Van Hulle, Associate Water Rights Specialist

Aspect strengthens its water resources practice with the addition of Associate Water Rights Specialist Jill Van Hulle. Jill is a water rights evaluation and permitting specialist with over 25  years of experience focused on Washington state water law, water rights acquisitions, and transfers for public agencies and private industry. Jill will join Aspect’s growing Olympia office, expanding Aspect’s capabilities for clients in the south Puget Sound area.

“Jill is respected by clients, regulators, and peers as one of the most knowledgeable and savvy water rights practitioners in Washington,” says Tim Flynn, Aspect’s President. “We’re excited to continue to introduce Aspect to all the south Puget Sound and clients throughout Washington that Jill has built strong relationships with.”

Jill worked as a water rights consultant for the last 11 years, and before that had 15 years of experience working at the Washington State Department of Ecology. She brings in-depth understanding of many water rights permitting strategies that protect valuable water resources assets for clients. From relinquishment protection strategies to water banking, from new mitigated permits to transfers, Jill is working on innovative projects throughout Washington. 

 “I’m excited to join the Aspect team and honored to be a part of such a talented group of consultants,” says Jill.  “Within my practice, Aspect has long been considered as one of the best firms in the Pacific Northwest, and among the few that truly understand the complex relationship between the water resource practice and the technical world. I love their enthusiasm, creativity, and dedication to both their clients and the environment. Aspect is a great fit for me.”

Exploring the Complexity of Water Rights Investing

The Seattle Times published an in-depth two-part series looking into recent challenges and proposed solutions of investing in water rights in Washington State. The articles spotlight the Chewuch Canal in the Methow Valley and a farm in the Palouse as two examples of different perspectives on water banking, the state’s Trust Water Rights Program, and what it means for the future of water in some of the state’s most sought-after agricultural centers.

Given Aspect’s experience with thousands of water rights projects as well as the majority of the state’s water banks, we welcome discussion on the complex topic of water rights investing in the Pacific Northwest.

Contact Tim Flynn and Dan Haller if you’re interested in more discussion on these topics.


Philanthropy in the Science and Engineering Industry: Our Approach

Like many professional services firms, Aspect promotes a giving back philosophy as a core part of who we are. Defining what philanthropy means to a company brings big-picture questions to ensure an equitable approach that makes the most impact – Is it simply donating money? Is it donating brain power and time? Who makes the decisions on where, how, and when to contribute?

Aspect recently went through a shift in how we approach donations of time and money, which culminated in less a top-down and more of a bottom-up, many voices program: something we call “ACT” or Aspect’s Community Team. We were honored to be featured in the latest issue of Engineering Inc, the American Council for Engineering Companies (ACEC’s) national magazine while we’re honing our approach. Read the feature here.

How does your organization coordinate charitable giving? Any suggestions for best practices?

Let us know and we’ll share your feedback.

New Seattle Address. Same Focus on Earth Science and Engineering.

As we near 20 years in business, Aspect has moved its Seattle office to a new address and bigger space in Seattle’s iconic Dexter Horton building. Our expanding client base and growing staff—now over 100 strong across seven offices in Washington and Oregon—is driving the move.

“The Pacific Northwest is thriving and so is the demand for our earth and water services,” says Tim Flynn, Aspect’s President. “This move represents the culmination of almost two decades of upward growth driven by clients in the Seattle market and throughout the Pacific Northwest.”

The Dexter Horton building—located in the heart of Seattle—has a combination of grand architectural aesthetic with innovative modern features. The 1926 building is a historical landmark as well as LEED Gold-certified. Aspect’s office on the 5th floor was designed intentionally to provide clients and staff with a variety of ways to collaborate, including open layout areas and comfortable meeting spaces.

Come visit us at 710 Second Ave, Suite 550, Seattle, WA 98104!

Learn how to get here/where to park/what to eat.

Aspect Talks Water at AWWA Conference

Tim Flynn and Dan Haller will both be presenting Friday April 27th at the AWWA ‘Just Add Water’ 2018 Section Conference in Tacoma. Friday morning, Tim’s presentation will focus on the City of Othello’s unique approach to source development by securing new supplies using irrigation canals, reclaimed water and ASR.

Aspect’s Andrew Austreng will be moderating the afternoon Water Resources technical session during which Dan Haller will be presenting an overview of water rights and water banking in WA.

Tim Flynn Presenting on Adapting Water Supplies After One of Biggest Dam Removals in US History

Aspect’s Principal Hydrogeologist Tim Flynn will be presenting on adapting water supplies post-Condit Dam removal on January 26 at the ACEC Oregon’s ACEC/SW WA Public Agency Liaison meeting. Aspect has been helping the City of White Salmon for over a decade to improve municipal water supplies. Tim will discuss the progression of water rights affecting the Dam and the City; the ongoing development of source alternatives to reduce demand on local surface waters; and the use of Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) to reduce surface water diversions during critical low flow periods. Learn more and register here.
 

Aspect President, Tim Flynn, to Guest Lecture at Seattle University Law School

Aspect President, Tim Flynn, has been invited by Michael O’Connell, former partner at Stoel Rives LLP and Adjunct Professor at Seattle University, to guest lecture at Seattle University’s Water Law course this November. Tim is excited to share what he’s learned in the decades of providing water rights and aquifer storage and recovery services to clients throughout Washington’s diverse landscapes.

Tim Flynn talks Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) at the NGWA Conference in Portland

This September 8-9 the National Groundwater Association will host the “Connecting the Dots…Groundwater, Surface Water, and Climate Connections” conference in Portland, Oregon.  This 2-day conference will focus on the connections between groundwater, surface water, and climate in the area encompassing Washington, Idaho, Oregon, northern California, and British Columbia.

Aspect’s president and principal hydrogeologist Tim Flynn will present on day two of the conference in the Drought Resilience/Water Availability/Scarcity portion of the conference. He will be presenting on Aquifer Storage and Recovery and will examine the challenges and opportunities of ASR. Learn more about the conference HERE.

Tim Flynn to Talk Water Right Strategies for Irrigators at the 2015 WSWRA Spokane Conference

Over December 2-4, the Washington State Water Resource Association’s (WSWRA) annual conference in Spokane will bring together experts and public policy leaders to discuss important 2016 water issues, including climate change, drought response, and many other relevant irrigation topics. Aspect’s president and principal hydrogeologist Tim Flynn will present on day one of the conference in the Irrigation District Workshop. His presentation on “Recent Case Studies of Effective Water Right Strategies to Support District Operations” will examine irrigation district’s potential risks and opportunities and highlight case studies of the White Salmon and Methow Valley Irrigation Districts. Learn more about the conference HERE.

Tim Flynn Sits on Scientific Risk Management Panel at the 24th Annual Water Law in Washington Conference

In late July 2015, the Washington Water Law Conference brought together water law practitioners, water users, and other experts to discuss current issues in Washington State’s water law. Aspect president and principal hydrogeologist Tim Flynn participated in a joint panel presentation on “Science vs. the Precautionary Principle: In what areas can more study lead to different decision making?” The presentations explored the technical and regulatory policy implications of reduced data collection and basic science in a resource constrained era on water right decisions.  The precautionary principal was illustrated through case studies of established instream flow rules and the challenges associated with limited stream flow data particularly in snow-pack driven watersheds such as the Methow River Basin.  Topics covered by other panelists included integrated water resource management issues and Ecology’s water right decision framework.