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Department of Ecology News Release - June 19, 2001
01-104
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
Most of the snow pack at low elevations in Washington's mountains has melted. Some snow pack at higher elevations still remains, but there is typically a small amount of water in the higher-elevation snow.
As of June 1, for the Columbia River, the April through September forecast of the amount of water that will flow past The Dalles Dam is 52 million acre-feet, which is 53 percent of average. If the forecast becomes reality, it will be the second-lowest amount ever recorded. In 1977, 51 million acre-feet of water flowed past The Dalles Dam.
Although the amount of water in the Columbia River will reach a near-record low, this week the projected flow of water at each of the recording stations along the river will be above the allowed minimum flow of water. Thus, all those with valid rights to take water from the river may withdraw water.
"The snow melt is now in the Columbia River. This means that irrigators will be able to withdraw water to irrigate valuable crops for the next several weeks and there will be more water in the Columbia for fish," said Doug McChesney, drought coordinator for Ecology. "We will have that water now and for the next several weeks."
McChesney said that people with interruptible water rights (water rights issued for use of Columbia River water after 1980) must continue checking weekly to determine whether water will be available for irrigation for the following week.
Storing water for droughts
Droughts are natural cycles of the environment. They may span multiple years, and may occur every 10, 50 or 100 years.
"Many people have said if we just had more storage, we could capture all the rain and snow and we wouldn't even have a drought," said Doug Johnson, who manages Ecology's dam-safety inspectors. "Storage certainly can help, but does not provide complete relief in a severe drought."
Since the 1977 drought, 107 water-supply storage projects have been built in Washington. The projects provide more than 44,000 acre-feet of water for irrigation, recreation, hydroelectricity, municipal drinking water, and fish and wildlife.
"As we look toward getting, using and managing water in the future, storage is an essential part of the picture," said Johnson. "The challenge is to develop projects that serve both a purpose for today and a drought-relief purpose for the future."
Drought-related water permits
Since March, when Ecology declared a drought emergency, farmers and municipalities in Benton, Chelan, Douglas, Franklin, King, Kitsap, Kittitas, Klickitat, Okanogan, Walla Walla and Yakima counties have applied for 50 temporary emergency water permits and 100 temporary emergency transfers or changes to existing water rights, to help maintain their water supplies.
Ecology has approved 40 applications for emergency water permits since the drought emergency was declared. Ecology has approved 78 applications and denied three applications to change or transfer existing water rights.
Conservation tips for this week
Check and repair faucet and toilet leaks inside and outside homes and businesses. Small drips can add up to more than 20 gallons of water a day.
When changing landscapes or putting in new gardens or lawns, install trickle or drip irrigation systems.
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.
