2021 Columbia River Basin Long-Term Water Supply & Demand Forecast

The State of Washington Water Research Center led the development of the 2021 Columbia River Basin Long Term Water Supply and Demand Forecast, in close collaboration with the Washington Department of Ecology, Office of Columbia River, and researchers from Washington State University, University of Utah, and Aspect Consulting.

Every five years the Washington State Department of Ecology’s Office of Columbia River (OCR) updates information on what the water supply and demands will be in the Columbia River Basin over the next 20 years. The Forecast assesses how environmental and economic changes, and human responses impact water resources (supply), and in turn seeks to project future water demands in light of these changes. Legislators, water managers, and the Office of Columbia River use the Forecast to better prepare to meet water needs in the years to come.

The 2021 Columbia River Basin Long-Term Water Supply & Demand Forecast and associated information is now available on the Washington Department of Ecology’s website and via the clickable images below.  Note that the full technical report will not be available until late August 2022.

A zip file containing all the image files for the figures and maps within the 2021 legislative report is available here.

The 2016 Forecast is available here.