Skagit PUD program shares surplus water rights with farmers. Should it continue?

The Skagit River flows past farmland near Hamilton in December 2025. The Skagit Public Utility District has a surplus of water rights. Meanwhile, area farmers face getting cut off from water at times they most need to irrigate because the rights they use are "interruptible." To address that issue, the PUD has been temporarily transferring some of i

By: Sophia Gates

Outlets: Cascadia Daily News

Published: August 28, 2026

Words: 726

Last Updated: 1 week, 6 days ago

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Since 2024, the Skagit Public Utility District has temporarily transferred some of its excess water rights to agricultural users in the area during the dry months of late spring through mid-autumn.

Leaders are now evaluating the future of that program and asking for input from the public. A stakeholder meeting is set for Wednesday, Sept. 2. It’s not yet clear when PUD commissioners will finalize policy for the program, but it would likely be …

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