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Department of Ecology News Release - June 12, 2001
01-097
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
A combination of warm spring temperatures, melting snow and operating dams has added to more water predicted in streams this week. However, river flows remain far below normal.
The National Weather Service's June 1 forecast continues to predict drought conditions for major rivers in Washington. State law defines a drought as water supply predicted to be 75 percent or less than normal levels.
The June 1 water-supply forecast for several major rivers is: Chelan River, 59 percent of average; Columbia River at The Dalles, 53 percent of average; Cowlitz River at Mayfield Reservoir, 72 percent; Okanogan River, 47 percent; Skagit River, 67 percent; Snake River at Lower Granite Reservoir, 50 percent; Wenatchee River, 59 percent; and the Yakima River, 57 percent.
The droughts of 1977 and 2001 continue to show striking similarities
Reports from the 1977 drought indicated a very significant decline in water for communities, farmers and fish. Following are some data about how the drought affected Washington state by mid-June 1977 compared to mid-June 2001.
In 1977, storms during the first three weeks of May resulted in slight increases to the amount of water in streams. Cool temperatures slowed the melting of mountain snow, so stream flows continued to decline. Water supplies in the Yakima basin were projected to be less severe than previously predicted. 2001: warm weather has resulted in much of the snow pack melting into streams about a month earlier than normal, thus increasing the amount of water in streams.
In 1977, 73 public and private drinking-water operations reported immediate or anticipated water-supply problems; six reported imminent problems. 2001: Nine large utilities told the state Department of Health that they are highly vulnerable to the drought.
In 1977, wheat and cattle were the most seriously affected agricultural products. Dryland and irrigated agriculture expected a $468 million loss because they couldn't grow crops. 2001: 90,000 acres of agricultural land have been taken out of production, 25,000 acres of orchards may be pulled out, and the sugar beet industry is out of production. Drought, energy costs and poor markets may all be contributing factors.
In 1977, barges moved fish from the Columbia and Snake rivers farther downstream. Trucks hauled fish downstream from the Yakima River. 2001: Drought conditions and dam operations have left more than 700,000 salmon smolts stranded in the gravel in the mid-Columbia River. Department of Fish & Wildlife biologists have rescued thousands of the small fish. The Yakima Indian Nation has trucked more than 150,000 salmon from the Yakima River downstream to the Columbia River.
In 1977, the Federal Power Commission ordered public utilities on the Columbia River to release water to help fish survive. 2001: Chelan County PUD spilled water for fish, and the Bonneville Power Administration spilled water at some of the federal dams on the Columbia River to help salmon migrate to the ocean.
In 1977, more than 500 aluminum-industry workers lost their jobs because there wasn't enough power to run the plants. 2001: Job losses that are clearly attributable to high-energy prices include more than 600 people who lost their jobs when the Vanalco smelter in Vancouver shut down.
In 1977, Gov. Dixy Lee Ray's "Save Electricity, Save Jobs" effort to reduce electricity use by 10 percent resulted in a nearly 7 percent energy savings. Seattle Public Light and Tacoma Public Light increased electricity rates. 2001: Gov. Gary Locke declared an energy alert and encouraged businesses and citizens to reduce energy use by 10 percent. State facilities have cut their energy consumption by more than 10 percent, while statewide energy use is down by about 5 percent. Power rates have increased in several communities, including areas served by the Clark, Cowlitz, Grays Harbor and Snohomish county PUDs, and by Peninsula Power & Light, Tacoma Power and Seattle City Light.
In 1977, 194 forest fires had been reported, and the Department of Natural Resources was seeding clouds in an effort to reduce forest fires. 2001: 13 fires have burned just 18 acres out of a total of 12 million acres of private and state forest lands protected by the Department of Natural Resources.
In 1977, Ecology had issued 400 temporary ground-water permits to help farmers and communities drill more wells. 2001: Ecology has issued 121 emergency water-right permits and changes of existing water rights.
Drought-related water permits
Since March, when Ecology declared a drought emergency, farmers in Benton, Chelan, Douglas, Franklin, Kittitas, Klickitat, Okanogan, Walla Walla and Yakima counties have applied for 45 temporary emergency water permits and 91 temporary emergency transfers or changes to existing water rights, to help maintain their water supplies. One water district in King County and one city in Kitsap County have applied for emergency water permits.
All together, Ecology has received 47 applications for emergency water permits since the drought emergency was declared; 38 were approved, and three were denied. Another 91 applications to change or transfer water rights have been filed; 83 have been approved, and three were denied.
Conservation tips for this week
Sweep driveway or sidewalk instead of hosing it off.
Wash cars at commercial car washes that recycle water.
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)
Governor's drought Web site: http://www.governor.wa.gov/drought/drought.htm
Ecology's drought hotline: 800-468-0261
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
