Although the Snoqualmie Valley can be a very wet place, many farms need water for irrigation during at least some of the summer months. Not all farms in the Valley have access to the water they need.

The Snoqualmie Valley Watershed Improvement District (SVWID) is planning a water rights auction to make water available to farmers who need it for the 2017 irrigation season. Any farmer within the District boundaries that is interested in learning more about water availability should contact the District by Jan. 6.

The SVWID was formed in December 2015. One of its main goals is to provide access to water for irrigation in the Valley. In January, the District will be holding a first-of-its-kind modified auction for irrigation water. The voluntary auction will be open to both farmers who want to lease water and to water-right holders who want to lease water to farmers in 2017.

An informational meeting on the auction will be 4 to 6 p.m. Jan. 11 at Carnation City Hall. Anyone interested in learning more should plan to attend.

“We hope this is the start of something very positive for the Valley’s farms, community, and economy and that everyone who is interested will ask questions, learn more, and participate if it seems right for them,” said Cynthia Krass, SVWID Executive Director.

For more information, contact Krass at cynthia@svwid.com, or call (425) 922-5725.