Double your impact for healthy rivers
Washington’s salmon need help. By donating to Washington Water Trust, you restore flows to Washington’s rivers and streams so that salmon have enough cool flowing water to thrive. Two community members are matching the first $15,000 given to WWT until Dec. 31. If you give now, then you’ll make twice the impact for local rivers, streams, and salmon!
What We Do
Our mission is to protect and restore healthy rivers and streams across Washington so that fish, farms and communities can thrive for generations. We craft smart, collaborative solutions to our freshwater challenges that will withstand the test of time in our rapidly changing world.
Our Focus Areas
We focus our work in the following four areas:
- Helping Rivers Flow
- Reconnecting Water in the Landscape
- Planning for Future Water Use
- Developing Alternative Water Sources
Our Approach
Collaborative
We engage all water users for collective buy in
Creative
Our team crafts smart, evidence-based solutions
Transformative
We create lasting change for a rapidly changing world
Washington's Freshwater
Is There Enough?
Commonly thought of as a water-rich state, Washington's freshwater resources are at risk from past mismanagement, climate change, and increasing demand. The good news is we are doing something about it.
Our Impact
Since 1998, we have worked across the state from the San Juan Islands to the Palouse restoring water to thousands of river miles in more than 50 rivers and streams.
See Our ImpactTeanaway: A Stream Flows Again
The Teanaway River, a critical tributary in the Yakima basin for salmon, steelhead and trout, struggled for many years, often running dry. Watch our short film Teanaway: A Stream Flows Again to see how people are coming together to help the river make a comeback.
Support Our Work
You can help Washington's beautiful rivers flow full and cool tomorrow and into the future.
News + Events
WWT and Red’s Fly Shop host Fly Fishing Film Tour on Nov. 8
WWT and Red's Fly Shop will host a benefit screening of the Fly Fishing Film Tour on Fri, Nov. 8 at Canyon River Ranch in Ellensburg. Join us for an evening of inspiring fly fishing films, a silent auction, and a raffle with gear from YETI, Scientific Anglers, Greys Fly Fishing, and more.
Transforming Loup Loup Creek
WWT, the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, and the Helensdale Reclamation District saw the need to restore Loup Loup Creek for steelhead and took action. The creek is now one of the most productive steelhead streams in the Okanogan Basin.
Boosting flows for fish at a critical time
Most of Washington is experiencing drought conditions in summer 2024. Record-breaking heat melted our mountain snowpack almost 50 days earlier than normal. Conditions in the Dungeness Valley are predicted to be the second driest since 1949. Thanks to our partners and supporters, WWT is boosting flows for fish at a critical time.
Icicle Creek project breaks ground
WWT signed agreements in March to kick off a project that will permanently restore more than 1.3 billion gallons of water annually to Icicle Creek. Our partners have hit the ground running since then! Catch up on Icicle Creek restoration efforts and infrastructure improvements today.
WWT 2023 Annual Report now available
WWT has focused on fixing Washington’s water challenges for more than 25 years. Our collaborative approach has resulted in 5.7 billion gallons of restored water flowing annually in rivers and streams across 17 watersheds. Learn the latest on our work in our 2023 Annual Report!
Low snow, low flows
In January, we welcomed the return of snow to the mountains. Since those storms, however, snow has not accumulated as we had hoped. While there is still time for the snowpack to build up, our team is preparing for what could be a dangerously dry summer.