Department of Ecology News Release - June 19, 2001
Drought update: would more water storage help in a drought?
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.
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