Oregon, Washington fund tribal water projects in Walla Walla Basin

The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation will receive $2.5 million from Oregon for water and habitat restoration projects in the Walla Walla Basin, with Washington providing $2.4 million in matching funds, according to Underscore Native News. The projects are part of the 30-year Walla Walla Water 2050 Plan, which aims to improve water management and streamflows through collaboration between tribal, state, federal and local stakeholders in Oregon and Washington.

The plan addresses longstanding challenges in the basin, where legal water rights exceed available supply and low streamflows have harmed fish populations. Funded CTUIR projects include floodplain and streamflow restoration, fish passage improvements, stormwater infiltration, irrigation upgrades and water quality enhancements. The plan requires long-term funding commitments from both states to maintain progress on restoration and infrastructure goals.