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Department of Ecology News Release - May 15, 2001
01-081
OLYMPIA - Following is the Department of Ecology's (Ecology) weekly report about the status of drought conditions in Washington, assistance being provided by state agencies, and what citizens can do to conserve and share water.
Status of drought conditions
Eastern Washington continues to be the area of the state most affected by the drought, with extremely low amounts of water in the Columbia and Yakima basins. In early May, Washington's weather returned to the drier pattern that has been typical much of the past several months. The drier weather and warmer temperatures have accelerated the melting of the mountain now pack.
"We'll likely see most of the snow pack in Eastern Washington melted by mid-June - earlier than normal," said Doug McChesney, a hydrogeologist with Ecology. "That means when the water is needed most in the late summer, it might not be there, and it will be very difficult for fish to move through rivers."
Comparisons between the 1977 and 2001 droughts
Reports from the 1977 drought indicate a very significant decline in water for communities, farmers and fish. Following are some data about how the drought affected Washington state in early May 1977.
Snow pack was increasing, but the overall water content of the snow pack was still well below normal. Most rivers had about half the normal amount of water, with levels even lower in Eastern Washington. Flows in the Columbia and Snake rivers were 50 to 80 percent of normal. For a few weeks, the Methow River was dry for an eight-mile stretch. Thurston County reported declines in some wells. 2001: very similar snow pack and river levels, except the Methow River has not run dry.
Seventy-six public and private drinking-water operations reported immediate or expected water supply problems. 2001: Nine large utilities told the Department of Health that they are highly vulnerable to the drought.
Dryland and irrigated agriculture expected a $468 million loss because they couldn't grow crops. 2001: 75,000 acres of agricultural land taken out of production, 25,000 acres of orchards pulled out, and the sugar beet industry is out of production - drought, energy costs and poor markets may all be contributing factors.
Low amounts of water resulted in six fish kills in the Yakima River and one in the Walla Walla River. 2001: no drought-related fish kills reported at this time.
The Federal Power Commission ordered public utilities on the Columbia River to release water to help fish survive. 2001: Chelan County PUD has spilled water for fish.
More than 500 aluminum-industry workers lost their jobs because there wasn't enough power to run the plants. 2001: Aluminum industry layoffs have occurred, primarily due to energy costs.
Gov. Dixy Lee Ray launched a "Save Electricity, Save Jobs" effort and urged citizens to use 10 percent less electricity. Seattle Public Light and Tacoma Public Light increased electricity rates. 2001: Gov. Gary Locke declared energy alert and encouraged businesses and citizens to reduce energy use by 10 percent. Power utility rates have increased in several communities, including areas served by the Snohomish and Clark county PUDs and Tacoma and Seattle public utilities.
172 forest fires burned 891 acres. The Department of Natural Resources was seeding clouds in an effort to reduce forest fires. 2001: May 14 marked the first reported wildfires - 40 acres burned near Lake Chelan.
Ecology had issued 400 temporary ground-water permits to help farmers and communities drill more water wells. 2001: Ecology has issued 57 emergency water-right permits and changes of existing water rights.
"Probably one of the most significant outcomes I learned from the 1970s drought was that a drought is a natural phenomenon," said Jim Bucknell, who coordinated Ecology's drought response in 1977. "You can do some things to minimize the effects and pain, but the magnitude is just too big. And what everyone needs is the one thing that we can't create -- water."
Emergency regulation adopted to help respond to the drought
On May 9, Ecology Director Tom Fitzsimmons adopted another emergency regulation to help respond to the drought. The regulation clearly defines the elements of a complete water-right application for processing during the drought emergency. The regulation also clarifies that the 15-day processing clock begins when a farmer, business, public utility, or other water-right holder submits a completed application to Ecology.
The rule also spells out how the agency will process water-right change applications that seek to add irrigated acreage or use water for a new purpose during the drought, as allowed by a 1997 law that allowed limited "spreading" of water that has been conserved by farmers.
In the past week, Ecology has received two more emergency water applications and approved 20 that were pending from previous weeks. The agency also received nine emergency applications to change or transfer water rights and approved seven.
All together, Ecology has received 36 applications for emergency water permits since the drought emergency was declared on March 14; 20 were approved, the rest are being reviewed. Another 59 applications to change or transfer water rights have been filed; 37 have been approved, and three were denied.
Water users affected by the low flows
Again this week and for much of April and May, Ecology directed farmers and other businesses with approximately 150 water rights who draw water from the Columbia River to stop withdrawing water. However, this week, for the first time in nearly two months, a couple dozen water-right holders who withdraw water below McNary Dam may divert water because the flow of water in that stretch of the Columbia River is above the minimum amount required.
Reducing the amount of water withdrawn is intended to protect the availability of water for fish and for people who have senior, older water rights. In the past 20-years, the agency issued water rights to farmers and others along the Columbia River with the condition that if water flows got too low, they would have to stop diverting water.
Conservation tips for this week
Energy-saving tips for commercial and industrial facilities: Replace incandescent lights with fluorescent lighting and/or reduce lighting, where appropriate.
Tune up or upgrade heating and cooling system components and other mechanical systems, such as elevators, commercial refrigerators, motors, pumps and air compressors.
Contact: Mary Getchell, Public Information Manager, 360-407-6157; 360-534-8590 (pager)
Ecology's drought Web site:
http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wr/drought/droughthome.html (Link removed
12/01/2003)
Ecology's drought hotline: 800-468-0261
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
