June
3, 2010 - Washington State Drought Emergency Declarations Unlikely
A colder and wetter than normal latter part of March and all of April
and May have reversed the trend of diminishing snowpack in Washington
state and reduced the threat of drought in nearly all areas of the
state.
Drought advisory committees stand down
The two committees that advise Gov.
Chris Gregoire on drought emergency declarations have been meeting
twice a month since February 2010 to monitor the water supply situation.
These committees recently stood down.
Emergency Drought Funds
The 2010 Legislature approved $4.2 million in dedicated funding for a
2010 emergency response but only a drought emergency declaration
authorized by Governor Chris Gregoire and issued by the director of
Ecology can trigger release of those funds.
The $4.2 million will stay in two accounts, the State Drought
Preparedness Account and the State Water Emergency Projects Revolving
Account, until June 30, 2011, or the 2011 Legislature reallocates the
money for another purpose.
Ecology will continue to monitor the situation
Until the latter
part of March, a warmer than normal winter had caused lower elevation
precipitation to fall as rain as opposed to snow. Now a cold and wet
spring is keeping statewide snowpack around longer than normal. In some
cases the snowpack has even continued to modestly build during a period
when it traditionally melts off. Two federal entities issue monthly and
mid-monthly forecasts about summer streamflows. Since mid-March, those
forecasts have been getting better.
The National Weather Service is
currently forecasting better chances for a continued colder and wetter
June followed by a summer with greater chances for less than normal
precipitation. Lower than normal summer precipitation, however,
shouldn’t make much of a difference because Washington receives so
little precipitation during the summer anyway.
Given the improvement and the lack of any undue hardship (the second
necessary component of a drought declaration in addition to less than 75
percent of normal supply), it does not appear a drought emergency
declaration will be necessary in any area of the state. This appears to
be the third time in the past decade in which a wet spring has bailed
Washington state out of a dry winter.
The department of Ecology will continue to monitor
the situation through the fall. You can find additional water
supply information at the following link:
