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Department of Ecology News Release - April 26, 2004
04-069
SPOKANE – Spring through fall is the time for dust storms in Eastern Washington— when the sky darkens and the air is gritty with dirt particles from dry farming areas, construction sites and dirt and gravel roads.
Dust storms normally occur in sustained winds above 20 miles per hour.
Most of the blowing dust from agriculture comes from summer fallow (land that is not planted) or newly-planted winter wheat fields that lack sufficient surface residue and soil clods, according to Washington State University research agronomist Bill Schillinger, who works at the Dryland Research Station near Lind in Adams County.
"Planting a winter-wheat crop every other year is the standard farming practice in areas of Eastern Washington that receive less than 12 inches of annual rainfall," he said.
Schillinger said the answer is to reduce the amount of tillage done on the fields and to use tillage tools that leave crop stubble on the ground and an uneven surface to slow the wind.
"Growing a crop each year is currently not an economically viable option for most farmers in the dry areas of the state," he said, explaining that it takes two years for the ground to recharge its moisture.
Particulate matter in dust storms is very small and can be inhaled deeply, where it can irritate or damage sensitive tissues in the respiratory system. People with respiratory illnesses, the elderly, young children, pregnant women and anyone engaged in strenuous physical activity outdoors are most at risk.
When a dust storm occurs, people can protect themselves by:
After the wind stops blowing, fine dust can remain suspended in the air as traffic grinds up dust deposited from the storm. In some low-lying areas, the air can become "stagnant," and particles may settle out of the air slowly. Sensitive people who wish to be prepared for dust storms should pay attention to local weather forecasts.
"Real time" air-quality data are available in most areas, county by county, online at https://fortress.wa.gov/ecy/enviwa/. For residents of Spokane County, air-quality data also are available at www.SCAPCA.org.
Non-farming residents can help reduce airborne dust by driving slower on unpaved roads and by postponing dusty projects around the house and yard until a less windy time.
In addition, dust control is required for all construction projects. Control measures include clearing no more land than necessary, working in phases to minimize the amount of exposed land area, using a commercial dust suppressant to replace or reduce the use of water, covering bare ground with gravel and curtailing activities on windy days.
For more information, contact Kary Peterson, at Ecology's Eastern Regional Office in Spokane, 509-329-3574; Paul Rossow at Ecology's Central Regional Office in Yakima, 509-454-4193; or your local air-pollution control agency:
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Media contacts: Jani Gilbert, public information manager in Spokane,
509-329-3495
Joye Redfield-Wilder, public information manager in Yakima, 509-575-2610
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
