Sen. Bob Morton, R-Kettle Falls, a member of the Joint Legislative Committee on Water Supply During Drought, met with other committee members today for an update on how the El Niño climate pattern is affecting precipitation and temperatures, and creating conditions for drought this summer. The update was provided by the state Department of Ecology.
The El Niño phenomenon has caused a warmer, drier winter. In January, more precipitation fell as rain, rather than snow, than is normal; and there is also a noticeable lack of snow at lower elevations. March has been water and drier than normal – conditions expected to persist throughout the spring months.
“All of this will significantly reduce our snowpack,” Morton said. “We need a good snowpack for a good spring buildup. A poor spring runoff means a water shortage that will significantly impact how much water Eastern Washington farmers will have to irrigate their crops. Water-starved crops don’t end up in markets. It will be another blow to our economic recovery.
“What we are focusing on is a process to close the gap between a ‘heads up’ and a full alert. It is essential to plan well ahead of a drought. Weather and runoff conditions will be updated twice a month. The Water Supply Availability Committee and the Executive Water Emergency Committee with meet twice monthly to consider recommendations.”
The state Department of Ecology is predicting fish passage, flow and habitat problems in many streams this summer and fall. Projected average streamflows in the upper Columbia basin are expected to be between 64 and 83 percent of normal.
The Office of Financial Management has asked House and Senate budget leaders to transfer $4.2 million from the Disaster Response Account and the state Emergency Water Projects Revolving Account to the 2010 emergency drought response.
More information about drought conditions is available online at: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wr/ws/wtrsuply.html
© Copyright 2006 by North Cascades Broadcasting, Inc
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