Drought update: How the state's drought money is being spent

Washington State Department of Ecology

Department of Ecology News Release - August 14, 2001

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Drought update: How the state's drought money is being spent

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.

Drought conditions

As Washington enters the driest part of the year with little snow pack left in the mountains, river flows across Washington are continuing to shrink.

"At this point, small amounts of rain make very little difference, and large amounts of rain make a difference for a limited time," said Doug McChesney, Ecology's drought coordinator. "The best way to keep water in the streams now and for the rest of the summer is for people to limit the amount of water they use."

Record low flows are being set almost every day on one or more rivers in Washington. Citizens can obtain real-time information about river flows in their area by going to the U.S. Geological Survey Web site at http://water.usgs.gov/cgi-bin/daily_flow?wa.

About one-third of drought money spent so far

When the Department of Ecology (Ecology) declared a drought emergency on March 14, $6 million in a special account immediately became available to help keep water flowing to those who need it.

Recognizing how severe this year's drought might be, the state legislature later provided another $5 million.

So far, at least $3.4 million has been spent or committed, including:

$311,000 for 21 leases of water rights to keep water in fish-bearing streams.
$866,000 to secure water for Columbia River irrigators whose water rights can be turned off if river flows drop too low.
Approximately $500,000 for a variety of drought-related projects to help fish.
A grant of $180,000 to the city of Goldendale to help bring a new water source on line after the drought reduced the city's primary water supply by about two-thirds. Ecology expects to receive requests soon from several other communities whose water supplies also are running low due to the drought.
About $850,000 from March through December for additional staff at several state agencies to provide drought-related services.
Between $675,000 to $1.3 million for the Yakima basin over the next two years to mitigate for lower stream flows that will occur due to the use of emergency wells this year. The underground water normally would seep into the streams over time.

"We made some early investments to purchase water in places where we knew there would be a problem, and we are watching closely for additional problems," said Joe Stohr, who manages Ecology's water-resources program. "Since we're now entering the hottest and driest part of the season, water supplies are only going to get worse, and we're ready to help where we can."

Stohr noted that Ecology is partnering with the federal Bureau of Reclamation on some of its water purchases to help the state money go further.

"Droughts sometimes last more than one year, so it would be great to have some money in reserve in case we have to do this all over again next summer," he said.

Drought-related water permits

Since March 14, when Ecology declared a drought emergency, farmers and municipalities in Benton, Chelan, Clallam, Douglas, Franklin, King, Kitsap, Kittitas, Klickitat, Okanogan, Stevens, Walla Walla and Yakima counties have applied for 66 temporary emergency water permits. So far, 51 have been approved and four denied.

Another 126 requests have been filed to temporarily change existing water rights to help maintain water supplies. So far, the department has approved 108 of those applications and denied three.

Conservation tips for this week

In the laundry room:

Do not use long pre-wash and scrub cycles on the clothes washer unless absolutely necessary.
Use the suds-saver setting on the washer. It allows wash water to be re-used.
Run the washer only with a full load, unless the washer has a low-volume setting.

Contact: Sheryl Hutchison, Communications Director, 360-407-7004

Ecology's drought Web site: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wr/drought/droughthome.html
Governor's drought Web site: http://www.governor.wa.gov/drought/drought.htm
Ecology's drought hotline: 800-468-0261