Due to its naturally dry conditions, the Dungeness River system is especially susceptible to drought. Since the river is snowmelt fed, flows naturally recede in late summer months when water demands for human and fish needs are the highest.

In August and September, as much as 50% of the flow left in the river can be withdrawn for out-of-stream use. Prolonged low flows can cause in-stream water temperatures to rise, prevent upstream fish passage, as well as reduce habitat available for migrating and spawning salmon.

Emergency drought conditions — like what we’ve experienced the last two years — then only further exacerbate human water demands and pressures on our endangered salmonid species.

Collaboration in the Basin

Over the last decade, Washington Water Trust (WWT), a non-profit organization, has been collaborating closely with the Jamestown S’Klallam natural resources department and Dungeness irrigators to improve pressures of low river flow during dry years.

Starting back in 2013, they implemented a dry year leasing program. “We can pay irrigators to not irrigate their acreage for a 32-day period” Jason Hatch, Program Director at WWT described. “This year, this [program] resulted in a 10-15% increase in flow.”

In 2024, about 1300 acres across 15 farmer forbearance agreements helped add an additional 9 CFS (cubic feet per sec) of discharge to the Dungeness River. Over the years folks participating in dry year leasing has increased.

“People are more familiar with the program now that is has happened six to seven times,” Hatch shared. “There is a rhythm to it. All long-term projects are based on relationships, and we have built good relationships with the irrigators.”

2024 was the second year for WWT’s pulse flow program, a new collaborative effort with Jamestown tribe and Dungeness irrigators to help improve Chinook and other salmon passage in late summer months. This program coordinates a turn down of five irrigation diversions along the river for a 13-hour pulse event. The hope is these scheduled pulse events will increase flow enough for migrating salmon to be able to move upstream.

“Can we keep more water in the stream? Can we address more physical barriers?,” Hatch said. “Can we move more salmon up? These are the questions we’re working together to answer with this program”

In 2024, there were four pulse flow events during the month of August, adding a total 84 cfs of additional flow to the Dungeness River.

Preparing for dry years ahead

The Dungeness is a unique watershed, not only ecologically, but agriculturally as well, which means being prepared for droughts is critical. As Hatch explained, “Conditions are different [here]. Other ag basins like Yakima or Teanaway have highly regulated water systems. The Dungeness is a much more confined area.”

Despite this basin’s uniqueness, Hatch felt that collaborators were more prepared this year than last for the drought.

“We’re trying not to start from zero each year,” Hatch said, “there is just not time for that. But since we have such long standing relationships with irrigators in the basin, we can have conservations with them about what other tools we can use in preparing for future droughts.”

Low river flows are extremely stressful for our fish and farmers alike. Therefore, getting to witness the coordination and intentional efforts in the Dungeness basin to address low flow concerns in the summer is something to celebrate; for it is no small feat.

To learn more about local water management or other water conservation resources, check out our website at extension.wsu.edu/clallam/water-conservation.

Sammi Grieger is the Water Conservation Coordinator at the WSU Clallam County Extension Office in Port Angeles. Contact her at samantha.grieger@wsu.edu.