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Department of Ecology News Release - May 9, 2005
05-112
OLYMPIA - The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) has earmarked approximately $200,000 in emergency drought-response funding to complete about two dozen "early action" projects across the state to help fish survive this year's drought.
The projects fall into five categories: water-access signs and site management, hatchery water supply, treating fish disease, salvaging and transferring fish, and monitoring fish and streams.
WDFW anticipates that existing water supplies will need to be supplemented at the Colville fish hatchery in Eastern Washington and at several Western Washington hatcheries, including Mossyrock, Washougal and Kendall Creek in Whatcom County.
At the Kalama Falls and Skamania hatcheries in Western Washington, the department also is likely to use drought-response money to help offset the costs of obtaining additional water from other sources. The facilities need sufficient cool, clean water because poor water quality, higher temperatures and reduced water supplies can concentrate fish diseases, increasing treatment costs and mortality rates.
Some hatcheries can be at risk because of lack of water of sufficient quality and quantity to rear fish. This requires pumping water from wells, which drives up costs. Some of the wells are also affected as the water table drops through insufficient groundwater recharge.
WDFW will change fish-rearing strategies at its hatcheries as low flows occur, which could include earlier releases or relocation of juvenile salmon and trout.
In addition, boat ramps need to be extended into Clear Lake in Thurston County, Williams and Clear lakes in Spokane County and other WDFW-managed access sites due to low water levels. Signs regarding public safety and habitat protection during drought also will be posted at public-access areas throughout the state.
Steve Keller, WDFW's drought-response coordinator, said early-action drought projects to salvage and transfer fish are anticipated for southeast and south-central Washington. And more emergency projects are being planned for late summer and early fall, when most adult salmon stocks return from the Pacific Ocean.
"We are most concerned about July, August and September, when adult fish return," Keller said. "We will be closely monitoring weather conditions and stream flows as we move toward that critical time frame."
Meanwhile, Keller said the public can help fish and wildlife populations cope with drought conditions by not altering the environment, especially in a stream or river.
"Building 'recreational' rock dams in small streams and rivers is not only illegal, but the structures can significantly alter natural stream flows or create barriers that block fish migration," Keller said. "A little rock dam may seem innocuous, but it isn't. This year, in particular, these structures can be devastating to fish survival."
STATUS OF DROUGHT CONDITIONS Drought conditions statewide are essentially unchanged, according to the National Drought Mitigation Center. Conditions are most severe in south-central Washington, which is classified as being in extreme drought. Most of the rest of Eastern Washington remains classified as being in severe drought. Current conditions are expected to continue, and the drought may intensify through the summer and into early fall. A narrow coastal band extending from Whatcom County to the Oregon border remains the only part of the state where normal conditions prevail.
Mountain snow pack around the state is rapidly melting, due primarily to recent rains and warm temperatures. Melting snow in May normally feeds and maintains streams flows. However, since much of the snow already has melted or never accumulated at all, the current contribution of melt water is not enough to keep many streams from experiencing near- to record-low flows for this time of year - including rivers in Jefferson, Mason, King, Pierce, Skagit, Snohomish and Whatcom counties. Except for short-term improvements caused by passing storm systems, flows will likely continue at unusually low levels for the summer. For current stream-flow conditions, go to the U.S. Geological Survey's Web site at http://wa.water.usgs.gov/news/drought/ .
HOW STATE AGENCIES ARE HELPING The state Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is promoting Wildfire Awareness Week, May 9-15, encouraging everyone to take steps to protect their homes from catastrophic wildfire. The department urges property owners to consider alternatives to burning debris and create "safety zones" to separate their homes and property from combustible plants and vegetation. Every year, firefighters respond to about 800 wildfires in Washington. From January through March, firefighters already had responded to 47 wildfires; more than 30 were in Western Washington. For more information, go to: http://www.dnr.wa.gov/htdocs/adm/comm/nr05_049.htm . (Link removed 01/05/06)
The Washington Conservation Commission (WCC) is working with Walla Walla Community College's water-management department and local conservation districts to sponsor several drought irrigation-management seminars for farmers on both sides of the Cascades.
Walla Walla County Conservation District will conduct a drought irrigation seminar at 5 p.m. on May 11 in Lowden, at the Frenchtown Hall, located at U.S. Highway 12 and Lower Dry Creek Road. To register or for more information, contact the district at (509) 522-6340, ext. 3 (e-mail: audrey.ahmann@gohighspeed.com ).
Clallam Conservation District will conduct a seminar from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on May 24 in Port Angeles, at Clallam County Courthouse, EOC meeting room, 223 E. 4th St. To register or for more information, contact the district at (360) 452-1912, ext. 111 (e-mail: lauie.yarnes@wa.nacdnet.net ).
Specific information will be tailored to the needs of area farmers, but general topics include water source and supply, water movement in soils, soil-moisture monitoring, irrigation-system options and drought solutions. The WCC also is working with Chelan County and Kittitas County conservation districts to conduct similar seminars.
By May 6, the Department of Ecology had received 102 requests from water users to drill new wells or to reactivate existing emergency wells. All but 23 of the applications came from water-right holders in the Yakima River basin. The department also has received drought-related water-right requests from King, Klickitat, Okanogan, Pierce and Walla Walla counties. The department approved 77 requests and denied nine; three requests were withdrawn by the applicants.
The Department of Agriculture is planning another director's forum on drought in Mount Vernon on May 20. Agriculture Director Valoria Loveland will host a town hall meeting that will include local elected officials and representatives from various state and federal agencies.
WILDFIRE PREVENTION TIPS
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Media contacts: Doug Williams, Department of Fish and Wildlife, (360)
902-2256
Curt Hart, Department of Ecology, (360) 407-7139; cell phone, (360)
951-9314
Ecology Drought and Well-Drilling Hotline: (800) 468-0261
State of Washington drought site: www.WashingtonDrought.org (contains links to all State of Washington drought-response agencies)
Fish and Wildlife drought Web site: http://wdfw.wa.gov/drought/ (information about drought-related fish and wildlife issues)
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
