Department of Ecology News Release - 01-110
June 26, 2001
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.
The condition of water supplies throughout the state continues to be in a holding pattern. The hardest hit area of the state ranges from the crest of the Cascade Mountain Range east to the Okanogan and Columbia River valleys.
"The recent rain we received, although an unusually significant amount for June, wasn't enough to make up for the precipitation deficit we experienced during the winter months," said Doug McChesney, Ecology's drought coordinator. "We're now entering what could be a hot, dry summer. We'll see just how bad the drought really is, with the hope things won't be too dire."
Low stream flows mean little water for fish. In many areas of the state, fish already do not have enough water, and the drought exasperates the problem.
"The drought makes life even more difficult for fish," said Ecology Director Tom Fitzsimmons. "We've done a lot of work this spring to shore up water supplies for farmers to get them through the drought, but we cannot forget that fish are feeling a lot of stress, too."
Fitzsimmons is encouraging citizens who have water they don't need this year to consider donating it to a trust, to be used for various drought-relief purposes.
In 1989, the state legislature first established a law that allows people to put their water right into a trust. The water can then used for fish habitat, agricultural irrigation, drinking water or other purposes.
Legislation sponsored by Gov. Gary Locke this year revised the law to make it more attractive, efficient and faster to put water into a trust.
Under the revised law, water-right holders can now donate a portion or all of their water right through a streamlined public review, with only limited review by the Department of Ecology.
This year and any year there is a drought, water-right holders may donate water on a temporary basis. Donors also may receive a deduction for charitable contributions on their federal income taxes.
For more information, contact Ecology's drought hotline at 800-468-0261.
In addition to improving the law on trust water rights, the legislature provided $3.5 million in the new state budget to purchase or lease water rights to improve stream flows for endangered salmon and steelhead.
Ecology will focus on making leases and purchases in the 16 state watershed areas that have been identified as having limited amounts of available water and streams with endangered fish. Those areas include Cedar/Sammamish (Water Resource Inventory Area - WRIA - 8), Chambers/Clover (WRIA 12), Duwamish/Green (WRIA 9), Elwha/Dungeness (WRIA 18), Lower Yakima (WRIA 37), Methow (WRIA 48), Middle Snake (WRIA 35), Naches (WRIA 38), Nooksack (WRIA 1), Okanogan (WRIA 49), Puyallup/White (WRIA 10), Quilcene/Snow (WRIA 17), Snohomish (WRIA 7), Upper Yakima (WRIA 39), Walla Walla (WRIA 32) and Wenatchee (WRIA 45).
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 51 temporary emergency water permits and 102 temporary emergency transfers or changes to existing water rights, to help maintain their water supplies. Ecology has approved 41 applications and denied four applications for emergency water permits since the drought emergency was declared. Ecology has approved 88 applications and denied three applications to change or transfer existing water rights.
Maintain and mow lawns to about a two-inch height and leave the clippings on the lawn.
Consider alternatives to lawns, and use plants that need little water.
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