Department of Ecology News Release - April 17, 2001 01-060
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 Early April weather has brought mixed blessings related to the drought.
Precipitation has continued to run below normal, but the cooler temperatures have delayed the melting of the mountain snow pack - something that usually starts at the end of March or early April.
In fact, the snow's water content has actually increased to reach nearly typical conditions at many sites monitored by the Natural Resources Conservation Service.
However, Doug McChesney, a hydrogeologist with the state Department of Ecology, warns, "The improved condition of the snow pack should not be taken as a sign that things are getting better. We're just stabilizing for the time being."
He noted that stream flows that had begun to improve in March due to rainfall are again falling below normal, and warm weather could cause the snow pack to melt rapidly.
"The longer the snow pack lasts, the better off the streams will be later," said McChesney. "A slower-melting snow pack could be good news for late summer, when flows are typically extremely low.
Under the drought emergency that was declared on March 14, by Department of Ecology (Ecology) may process transfers and changes of water rights under a streamlined process that must be completed within 15 days. Landowners also may apply for emergency water rights that would allow access to water that currently is not being used.
Since March 14, the state Conservation Commission and local conservation districts have been actively identifying landowners who have excess water they are willing to transfer to someone else whose existing source will be much less this summer or even dry up.
According to John Konovsky, the Central Washington field representative for the Conservation Commission, about 15 water-right holders contacted conservation districts in the upper Yakima basin. Five to 10 of them are now working directly with irrigation districts to match them up with farmers who need water.
"The outreach efforts of conservation districts in the upper Yakima basin now are complete. All the interested landowners are working directly with irrigation districts to complete their water right transfers," said Konovsky.
So far, Ecology has received approximately a dozen emergency applications to change or transfer water rights; the applications are in various stages of review.
Another 12 applications for emergency water rights have been submitted; six have been denied, and the rest are being reviewed.
The state Department of Health has now completed a survey of about 200 large water systems across Washington to determine their readiness to cope with the drought.
All together, the systems surveyed provide water to more than two-thirds of Washington's residents.
The results indicate that most of the water systems are well prepared to keep water flowing throughout the drought this year, although a multi-year drought could pose greater difficulties. Residents and businesses in many of the cities served by the water systems are being asked to increase their conservation efforts.
For more details about the results of the survey, go to Department of Health's Web site at:
http://www.doh.wa.gov/Publicat/2001_News/01-31.html.
Bathing is the third-largest use of indoor water and second-highest use of energy. To save water and energy, residents should:
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