Water curtailments for the Chehalis River basin

Notice applies to outdoor water use only—mostly irrigation

The curtailment notice affects junior water right holders in the Chehalis River basin.
We have had an unseasonably warm and dry spring, including the fourth-driest March on record. As a result, even after a wet winter and a memorable bout of snow in February across much of Western Washington, we are now dealing with drought conditions in parts of our state.

The curtailment notice affects junior water right holders in the Chehalis River basin.

Earlier this week, we notified 93 junior water right holders in the Chehalis River basin that their access to surface water for irrigation is curtailed until the rains return and streamflows increase in the state’s second-largest watershed and drainage basin.

The water users have rights that are junior to (younger than) the 1976 instream flows set by state rule for the basin. Those junior water right holders must now stop diverting water from the Chehalis, Newaukum, Satsop, and Wynoochee rivers and their tributaries when flows are not being met to keep the water in the stream.

This is the fifth consecutive year we have issued curtailment orders or notices for junior surface water irrigation uses in the Chehalis basin to comply with the regulatory requirements. It is the first year that we will also be enforcing this rule for four man-made water ski lakes in Thurston and Lewis counties. The curtailment notice does not apply to indoor water use or to water for livestock.

As we’ve done in prior years, our staff will periodically visit the basin and are available to answer questions.

You can find the latest information on instream flows and contact information for our Chehalis basin staff on our website:

• Lower Chehalis watershed 
• Upper Chehalis watershed

Unusual spring weather

The Chehalis basin receives most of its runoff from rain, with some minor contributions from snowpack at higher elevations in headwater streams of the southern Olympic Mountains and the Willapa Hills. Streamflows in the basin are lower than normal for this time of year. It’s been warm and dry in the Chehalis River basin and there is little melting snow left to compensate for the tightening water supply.

Drought and instream flows

Last week, Gov. Inslee officially declared a drought emergency declaration for the Chehalis River basin, along with 26 other watersheds. There are two factors considered for drought declaration: The watershed must be at or below 75 percent of normal flow, and that the low water would cause undue hardship for agriculture or domestic water supply users.

The Newaukum River.

A drought emergency declaration allows Ecology to expedite things like water right permitting and providing funding to local governments to address hardships caused by drought. Some examples of drought-relief projects that funding might be used for include leasing water rights, implementing water conservation programs, and developing alternative sources of water supplies for communities, farmers, and fish hatcheries.

However, the drought declaration is not why there are water right curtailments in the Chehalis basin. We are required by law to protect senior water right users and streamflows for rivers and streams to ensure there is enough water to meet the needs of people, farms, and fish. One of the most effective tools for protecting streamflows is to set instream flows, which are flow levels adopted into rule.

An instream flow rule was established in 1976 for Chehalis basin streams. Since then, newer water rights have been issued that are junior to the flow rule. When flows drop below the adopted levels, junior water rights (those established after the instream flow rule was adopted into law) can be temporarily interrupted in an effort to keep the protected amount of water in the stream. This means junior water rights are curtailed from withdrawing water until streamflows rise above the established flow levels.

Setting instream flows protects our streams, rivers, and lakes from new withdrawals that would harm instream resources including fish, wildlife, recreation, aesthetics, water quality, and navigation.

Read more about protecting streamflows.

By Jeff Zenk, Southwest Region communications

Watching the water supply

Hot, dry conditions put pressure on water supplies

Campbell Creek, the water supply for the community of Ryderwood, is a 

trickle due to a major lack of precipitation in Cowlitz County. Read more

on our statewide conditions webpage. Photo courtesy of Washington State
Department of Health. 

The fall rains can’t come soon enough.

Months of unusually warm and dry weather continue to put pressure on the state’s rivers and streams. Although some areas saw sprinkles earlier this month, rivers across the state continue to recede. In some cases, rivers are hitting new record lows. The Naselle River in southwestern Washington established a new historic low flow when it dropped to 16 cubic feet per second (cfs) this week. That’s roughly half of its normal flow of 37 cfs.

High temps in August

Although wildfire smoke moderated the heat a bit, the average daily temperature during the first half of August was about 3 degrees above normal. This contributed to more days above 90 degrees than usual. The Vancouver airport hit 90 degrees or hotter on 28 days this summer. That’s more than Spokane, which broke 90 degrees on 23 days. The average over the previous 20 years for Vancouver is 11 days. For Spokane, about 19.

Thankfully, this summer, we aren't expecting an official water supply drought emergency to be declared. It's been hot and dry, but water supplies so far haven't met the statutory threshold. Under state law, a drought emergency is defined by a two-prong test:

·          An area has or is expected to receive 75 percent or less of normal supplies AND

·          Undue hardships are likely to occur as a result. 

Official drought declarations provide us flexibility to authorize emergency wells and water withdrawals.

Tracking impacts

We’re working with other state agencies to track impacts from the warm and dry conditions.

The Department of Health tells us that multiple drinking water systems in western Washington have taken measures to reduce demand. Actions range from requesting voluntary or mandatory conservation (e.g., lawn watering restrictions) to more serious measures like hauling water.

Larger municipalities like Seattle and Tacoma say their water supplies should be fine for the season.

For fish, warm water temperatures can block migration. Emergency fishing closures are in effect on parts of the Columbia River to protect fish trying to find refuge in cooler water, according to the Department of Fish and Wildlife.

We are continuing to regulate water users in some parts of the state to protect senior water rights and adopted instream flows. Curtailment notices or orders have been issued in the Chehalis, Walla Walla, Methow, Similkameen, Wenatchee, and Skagit watersheds.

Read about more impacts on our water supply conditions webpage. We update it weekly.

By Kristin Johnson-Waggoner, communications manager

Watching the water supply:

Southwest Washington bearing brunt of dry conditions

Although we don't expect much rain this time of year, one area of the state stands out for being drier than usual: Southwest Washington and most of the Olympic Peninsula.

The July 19, 2018, U.S. Drought Monitor map classifies

southwest Washington as having moderate drought-like

conditions. Much of the rest of the state is considered

abnormally dry.

The U.S. Drought Monitor map, one of the tools we use to assess state water supply conditions, classifies much of the region as experiencing moderate drought-like conditions. The map is updated weekly and available on our statewide water supply conditions webpage.

Streamflow data also point to low flows in the region.

We’re seeing many rivers and streams in southwest Washington run at record low levels. The Chehalis River near Grand Mound is running at 113 cubic feet per second—a flow level in the 1st percentile, meaning flows are so low they are exceeded 99 percent of the time for this time of year historically. The Willapa River near Willapa is at 20 cubic feet per second, which is in the 1.5 percentile, meaning the flow is exceeded 98.5 percent of the time for this time of year historically. Irrigators, fish and aquatic habitat are most affected by these low flows.

Citing low flows in the Cowlitz River, the city of Kelso has asked its residents to take  

The Chehalis River winds its way west of Chehalis (July 19, 2018). We're
seeing record low flows on parts of the river. 

voluntarily water conservation measures until water levels in the municipality’s water source improve. To the north, the city of Forks and two small Jefferson County water systems are also asking their customers to follow voluntary conservation measures.

NOAA’s climate prediction center is predicting warm, dry conditions for the rest of summer. We are closely monitoring water supply conditions and working with other state agencies to track impacts. If you’d like more detail, read our water supply webpage.

Are we in a drought emergency?

Under Washington State law, emergency drought conditions are identified when water supply in an area has or is predicted to have 75 percent of normal water supplies AND undue hardships expected as a result. 

Drought emergencies are declared using a formal process based on statute. At this time, we have not declared a drought emergency anywhere in the state.

A rain-fed water system

The hydrogeology of southwest Washington is unique. Water supplies rely heavily on rain and less on snowpack from the Cascade and Olympic mountains. This means the region’s water supplies are more sensitive to above-average temperatures and below-average precipitation like we’ve been experiencing.

The effects of the unseasonably warm and dry weather in May led us to issue water use curtailment notices. We asked 88 junior water right holders—mostly irrigators—in the Chehalis River basin to stop using river water until flows increase.  This is the fourth consecutive year we have issued curtailment orders or notices for junior surface water irrigation uses in the basin. It was also among the earliest dates we have curtailed this group of water users.

Office of Chehalis Basin

In 2016, the Legislature created the Office of Chehalis Basin within Ecology. While a main focus of the new office is to pursue long-term flood-damage reduction and restore aquatic habitat in the state’s second-largest river drainage system, the Office of Chehalis Basin is also tracking the impacts of the dry conditions.

By Kristin Johnson-Waggoner, communications manager

Watching the water supply

While you’re out there enjoying this warm and dry weather, there’s another side to the story that we’re continuing to track: How these conditions are impacting state water supplies.

We are seeing dry areas around the state. NOAA is forecasting summer to be even drier and warmer than normal, so our dry conditions are likely to persist until the fall rains return.

This map from USGS shows about half of the 

streamflows in our state are at below-normal levels.
Learn more about streamflows at our statewide
conditions webpage. 

Currently, parts of the state (mostly southwest Washington) are experiencing moderate drought-like conditions. See the U.S. Drought Monitor map below for more detail. However, storage reservoirs for drinking water and irrigation are in good shape.

People and the environment depend on a healthy water supply. Impacts from the current dry conditions will likely most affect irrigators and fish. We’ll continue to track conditions on our website and this blog.

Are we in a drought emergency?

While drought-like conditions are evident, we’re not declaring a drought emergency at this time. Drought emergency declarations for the entire state or part of the state involve a formal, statute-based process. Conditions that could trigger a drought emergency are when water supply in an area is 75 percent of normal and there is an expectation of undue hardship because of deficient water supply. We are watching the situation closely.

Curtailment updates

We issue curtailment orders in parts of the state due to low flows in rivers and streams. Curtailing water use protects senior water right holders and adopted streamflows. Here’s an update:

• In June, we wrote about curtailing 300 junior water users along the Yakima River and its tributaries. Since then, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation announced that senior and pro-ratable customers of project water will receive 100 percent of their water supply this summer. This is an improvement over June, when Reclamation had forecasted 96 percent. Due to this revision, which Reclamation attributes to reduced demand during the month of June, we are notifying the junior water right holders in the basin that they may resume their diversions. 

• In the Methow area, irrigators with interruptible water rights will likely be regulated when river levels drop close to minimum flows. We will provide these water users with a hotline to check if they are allowed to irrigate.

As always, visit our statewide conditions webpage for information on streamflows, temperature, precipitation, and more.

We use several tools to assess statewide water supply conditions, including a weekly map from the U.S. Drought Monitor. This week’s map shows abnormal dryness and parts of the state, mostly in southwest Washington, experiencing moderate drought-like conditions.

By Kristin Johnson-Waggoner, communications manager

La Niña winter update

Winter Storm Oliver brings February snowpack relief

Skiers and snowboarders had a lot to like about the recent President’s Day weekend weather. Winter Storm Oliver not only was significant nationally, it brought an impressive snowfall to the Washington Cascades. At the same time, the white stuff that closed mountain passes is helping to narrow the level of uncertainty we might have about this summer’s water supply.

When paired with forecasted cooler temperatures, conditions for late winter appear to be improving considerably. The more localized storm this past weekend (Feb. 23-25) appears to be further evidence the season is normalizing, particularly at Snoqualmie Pass.

What a difference the second half of February is shaping up to be.

How much snow did our mountains receive?

Generally, SNOTEL sites across the Cascades received about 10 percent of the annual total during Winter Storm Oliver.

A few exceptional highlights:

• Snow-measuring sites near Snoqualmie Pass accumulated between 14 and 22 percent of the median annual total snowpack. Meadows Pass, located in the Cedar River watershed, improved dramatically by receiving 22.4 percent of annual snow water equivalent (SWE).
• In the north Cascades, the Wells Creek site for the north fork of the Nooksack River added 11 percent of the annual total, finishing at 107 percent of annual peak snowpack.
• The Potato Hill site near the north side of Mount Adams finished the storm at 94.8 percent of the annual peak, adding 16.7 percent of SWE over the long weekend.



Meadows Pass is a SNOTEL station at approximately 3200’ in elevation in the Snoqualmie Pass area. Snow falling at this location drains into the Cedar River, supplying Seattle Public Utilities’ reservoir at Chester Morse Lake.  It is also adjacent to the headwaters of the Yakima River Basin.



Early February was a different story

Just a few weeks ago in this blog, I characterized the winter snowpack as a “fits-and-starts” variety inconsistent with the cold and snowy winters typical of La Niña years. Day and nighttime temperatures well above normal and, in some cases, record-breaking warm, were a concern.

Signs portending an early spring seemed to be ramping up. Seattle had above-normal temperatures for the first nine days of the month of February, on many days 5-to-10 degrees above normal.

Even more startling, Yakima had several days with high temperatures near 70 degrees. The Paradise ranger station on Mount Rainier had nine days with high temperatures, 32 degrees or above, in the first 20 days of the month. On four of those days, the average temperature for the entire 24-hour period was at or greater than freezing.

It is certainly nice for folks to haul out their skis instead of their bikes now that temperatures are cooler and the snow levels are improving. But water managers may suffer headaches if warm winter days return and trigger an early melt-off of the snowpack.

Water distribution systems in the Pacific Northwest rely on the slow but steady runoff of melted mountain snow to replenish our reservoirs and rivers, and provide the water used during our dry summers. An early snowmelt leaves less for rivers, communities, and farms during the dry season.

Cool high-country temperatures late in the snow year, even as few as a couple of weeks of cooler temperatures, can go a long ways toward providing seasonal water security in the region. As it stands right now, the unseasonably warm weather of a few weeks ago appears to be more of a short-term perturbation, rather than a harbinger of a very early spring. This is good news.

Is spring canceled?

“Winter is not over—the story is still being written,” a colleague of mine adroitly put to me. The spring-like temperatures of early February are not something we are contending with for the time being. This doesn’t necessarily mean spring is far away, but we're no longer seeing Arizona-like winter temperatures threatening to drive an early snowmelt.

The return of winter weather also means that basins with below-normal snowpack have less catching up to do before winter begins to glide into its denouement.

• The Stevens Pass SNOTEL site, for example, currently has 94 percent of peak annual snowpack in inches of SWE.
• Rainy Pass, a site in the north Cascades at the headwaters of the Skagit and Stehekin rivers, also has 94 percent of the median total annual snowpack.
• White Pass’ Pigtail Peak SNOTEL—a key indicator for Yakima River Basin water supplies—added 11 percent of the peak annual snowpack during the most recent storm, improving from 64 percent to 75 percent of the median maximum annual SWE.

We’ll need to see continued cold weather to ensure this snow stays in place until it is most needed.

What's next?

The outlook by NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center sees normal precipitation and much-below-normal temperatures for both the six-to-10 day and 8-to-14 day forecasts. Forecasts also indicate near-normal levels of precipitation for late spring and summer.
So, stay tuned – there’s more to come. And this winter remains one to watch!

For more information check out our statewide water conditions page.


By Tyler Roberts
Watermaster for Ecology's Office of Columbia River

Watching the water supply

Snow is piling up at Paradise on Mt. Rainier. Photo: National Park Service webcam

This blog post is part of an ongoing series about water supply. Please click here to read the previous post. If you want to learn more, visit our Washington water supply information page.

It’s a new year and a good time to check in on our statewide water supply. Winter usually puts less pressure on our water supply because of reduced demand for water in homes and less agricultural irrigation. But communities and farms are already starting to plan for the drier and warmer months -- and experts are watching the conditions closely.

Looking back at 2016

For Washington state as a whole, 2016 was a slightly warmer, wetter-than-normal year. Temperature-wise, the state was 1 to 2 degrees warmer than average annually, and March through May tied 1992 for record warmth.

The balmy spring caused our snowpack to melt at record rates. In early April, the state snowpack was slightly above normal. By late May, it was less than 50 percent of normal. This raised some concern that water supplies might be pinched later in the summer, but a switch to wetter conditions and more moderate temperatures in June and July made things manageable. Still, there were some watersheds in southwest Washington where dry conditions caused total runoff during the spring and summer to be even lower than 2015 – a drought year.

This fall, the warmth returned along with long stretches of rainy days. Averaged statewide, October and November were the second-warmest on record (3.3 degrees above normal) and wettest on record (6.61 inches above normal). The pattern changed in December, though, when cooler, drier weather swept in. Most of the state was chilly – with many areas a few degrees below normal – for the first few weeks of the month.

Status of our supplies

We’re starting 2017 with good snowpack. Let’s take a closer look at water supply as of Jan. 5 and forecasts for the future:

The sun peeks out over a snowy scene on Hurricane Ridge. 

The Olympic Mountains have 126 percent of normal snowpack
for this time of year. Photo: National Park Service webcam

Weather and outlook | Looking ahead, state climatologists are expecting La Niña conditions (cool and wet) to shape our regional climate, but there’s a good chance we’ll switch into neutral conditions (neither La Niña nor El Niño) later this winter. Forecast models aren’t clear on temperature heading into spring, but they are predicting wetter-than-normal weather. Beyond spring, the forecast models aren’t saying much.

Mountain snowpack | Mountain snow is critical because it serves as a reservoir during spring and summer, gradually melting and feeding rivers and streams. Our mountain snowpack got a late start this year but is currently looking good. The lower Columbia, central Puget Sound and Olympic regions, in particular, are doing great with more than 125 percent of normal snowpack for this time of year. The mountains near Spokane are somewhat behind schedule, but they’re still looking decent with 77 percent of normal snowpack.

Rivers and streams | Experts are seeing typical conditions for our state’s rivers and streams. Daily streamflows are mostly in the normal range. Flows are dropping below normal during cold snaps, when snowmelt stops.

Agriculture | The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation reports that storage levels at the five reservoirs in the Yakima River basin, a major agricultural center, are at 107 percent of normal. Precipitation from October to the end of December is about 94 percent of normal in the Yakima region.

Drinking water | Drinking water supplies in our state’s big cities are in good shape. At the beginning of September, Everett’s water storage was 110 percent of normal for that time of year. Seattle’s combined reservoir storage is also above normal for this time of year. Tacoma reports that both precipitation and snowpack levels are above normal at the Lynn Lake monitoring site near the Howard Hanson Reservoir.

How you can help

We all have a role to play in conserving water, even in winter! Here one way you can make a difference:

• Insulate outdoor spigots to prevent them from freezing and bursting. If you have an outdoor garden hose, remove and drain it. This video from the Saving Water Partnership has more information.

For more tips, visit our water conservation page.

By Kristin Johnson-Waggoner, Water Resources Program communications manager

Watching the water supply

This blog post is part of an ongoing series about water supply conditions. Please click here to read the previous post. If you want to learn more, visit our Washington water supply information page.

Have we seen the last of summer’s high temperatures? The arrival of more moderate weather may feel like fall for many of us across the state. As we begin to transition into the next season, let’s check in on our statewide water supply conditions.

Status of our supplies

Weather impacts | Cooler and wetter weather is on the way. Over the next 10 days, Washington will receive much-needed rain. While the amount may be modest, it will help our rivers and streams rebuild to higher levels while lowering water temperatures.

The Walla Walla River in southeast Washington ran low in

August. 

Rivers and streams | This is the time of year when rivers and streams are at their lowest levels. The snowpack is long gone and rain has been infrequent, so rivers and streams are relying on groundwater. Currently, about 48 percent of our streams and rivers are at below-average levels compared to historical flows. Most of these are in the western half the state, though southeast Washington also has a number of low rivers. These dry areas have gone without their usual share of precipitation since early spring.

Last year, we experienced a record-setting drought that resulted in 70 to 80 percent of our rivers being below-average for most of the summer. But in mid- and late August, the weather turned cooler and thunderstorms rolled across the state, dropping the percent of rivers flowing at below-average conditions to 40 percent. Compared to last summer at the end of August, our rivers are actually faring worse because we haven’t had those big storms yet.

Agriculture | Most of Washington’s agricultural areas experienced a dry and hot August. Crops are doing well for the most part, but farm ponds and reservoirs are getting low. The large federal reservoirs used for irrigation in the Yakima River Basin are at about normal levels, which is good for farms and fish. Farmers in the Yakima region holding junior water rights are receiving 94 percent of a full water supply. Senior users have 100 percent.

Bull trout in Bumping Lake, a reservoir in Yakima County,

are heading up tributaries to spawn. Photo: WDFW

Fish | Low flow levels in rivers and streams can be tough for fish, but cooler overnight temperatures are helping. In the Puget Sound area, streams are averaging 1 to 3 degrees Celsius cooler than in 2015. To the north, the South Fork Nooksack River is about the same temperature as last year. The Chehalis River and nearby southwest Washington streams are running very low compared to normal. Good news can be found in the Upper Yakima and Naches river basins, where bull trout have started moving out of Bumping Lake and into streams to spawn. That’s encouraging after what happened last summer, when low lake levels prevented the fish from moving into Deep Creek, an important bull trout stronghold.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife continues to watch for recreational rock dams that might impede upstream adult salmon passage.

Drinking water | Drinking water supplies are doing well. Seattle, Everett and Tacoma report normal or above-average water supplies.

How you can help

We all have a role to play in conserving water. Here are two ways you can make a difference:

• When washing your hands, turn off the water while you lather up.
• Don’t use your toilet as a wastebasket. Even better, use a leak-free, high-efficiency toilet. Toilets are by far the main source of water use in our homes – they account for nearly 30 percent of residential indoor water consumption.

For more tips, visit our water conservation page.

By Kristin Johnson-Waggoner, Water Resources Program communications manager

Watching the water supply

This blog post is part of an ongoing series about water supply conditions. Please click here to read the previous post. If you want to learn more, visit our Washington water supply information page.

Goodbye hoodies, hello flip-flops – summer temperatures are here! Despite the heat, our water supplies continue to be in good shape statewide. We can thank the recent cool, wet “Jultober” conditions for reducing water demand and improving water supplies. Those moderate conditions felt much different from last summer, when we were in a statewide drought emergency.

Status of our supplies

Weather impacts | If late June and early July felt cooler than usual to you, you’re not wrong. Average temperatures for the last month were within 2 degrees of average statewide, with most of the state being below average. Things changed late last week when the heat set in, especially on the east side. Yakima hit 102 on Monday, tying the record high for that day. Looking ahead, the weather is expected to cool off a bit in the coming days.

Precipitation amounts have been varied, depending on the region. Over the past 30 days, the north Olympic Peninsula has been drier than average while the eastern slope of the Cascades and southeast Washington have been wetter than average. Record daily rainfalls were recorded recently in Seattle, Kennewick and near Walla Walla. Flash flooding even caused some road closures in Chelan and Douglas counties.

Rivers and streams | As of today, 28 percent of rivers are below normal. Our rivers, in an aggregated sense, are just shy of normal flows. That said, in a few rivers – about 7 percent – flows are much lower than average or are at record low conditions.

Agriculture | The Yakima River Basin, our drought bellwether, continues to have a good water supply. Junior water users are being prorated to 90 percent of full supply. Last year, it was 46 percent. Summer storms have helped rivers in some areas, especially on the east side, and reduced the need for continual irrigation.

A bull trout navigates an upper tributary of the 

Yakima River. Photo: William Meyers/WDFW

Fish | Our fish are doing alright, despite some areas of high water temperatures. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife is monitoring conditions closely and may take action to protect vulnerable fish populations. Visit their website to learn more. Overall, the toughest part of the year for fish was spring, but this summer so far is better than last year.

Drinking water | Drinking water supplies in Seattle, Tacoma and Everett are in good shape.

What’s next

The Water Supply Availability Committee (WSAC) will hold its monthly meeting on Aug. 11. This committee is a team of experts from state and national agencies who review data and discuss potential water shortages. If conditions warrant, this committee can convene the Executive Water Emergency Committee (EWEC), which is made of state agency leaders with a stake in water supplies. These leaders assess findings from WSAC and determine whether water users in affected areas will likely incur undue hardships. EWEC can recommend the governor consider an emergency drought declaration.

How you can help

It’s easy to make water conservation part of your daily routine. Here are two tips that will save water and money:

• Wash only full loads of laundry or use the appropriate water level/load size selection on the washing machine.
• Want a nice, cold glass of water? Keep drinking water in the refrigerator instead of letting the faucet run until the water is cool.

For more tips, visit our water conservation page.

By Kristin Johnson-Waggoner, Water Resources Program communications manager

Watching the water supply

This blog post is part of an ongoing series about water supply conditions. Please click here to read the previous post. If you want to learn more, visit our Washington water supply information page.

Did you grab a jacket or sweater while celebrating the Fourth of July? The weather felt different from last year for lots of folks across the state. Our water supply situation is different, too.

In summer 2015, we were in the midst of a drought emergency. This winter, plenty of snow and rain helped reduce impacts from the drought, but a hot and dry spring concerned experts. Luckily, the recent run of normal-ish temperatures and precipitation have improved our statewide water supplies.

Status of our supplies

Here’s the latest on our water supply conditions as of July 6:

Weather impacts | Over the past two weeks, precipitation has been about normal statewide – within 1.5 inches of average. But the coast and northeast parts of the state, already dry from spring, have stayed on the below-average side.

Average statewide temperatures for the past 14 days have stayed within 0 to 4 degrees above normal. Water use is declining due to more moderate temperatures compared to last month. In Seattle, the city’s public utility reports that daily demand is down nearly 50 million gallons per day from last year.

This USGS map compares current (July 6) and historical stream flows in
Washington. Click here to see more.

Rivers and streams | Rivers are naturally at their lowest flows during summer, but our rivers are experiencing – and will continue to experience – the effect of drier-than-normal spring weather and rapid snowpack melt. Statewide, about 58 percent of rivers are below average. This is an improvement over the beginning of June, when 77 percent were below average. (This doesn’t mean river flows are getting higher. Rather, compared to the same time of year for the period of record, we are closer to average now than we were in early June.) Looking back, 79 percent of our rivers were below normal last year around this time.

 

Agriculture | The Bureau of Reclamation manages several large reservoirs in the Yakima River Basin, an important agricultural center, and releases forecasts of how much water farmers can expect from those reservoirs. Currently, the areas with junior water rights are expecting 86 percent. Last year, they were at 47 percent. Senior water right holders are expecting a full forecast.

Managers of sockeye salmon fisheries are closely watching water
temperatures. Photo: William Meyers/WDFW

Fish | River temperatures are on the rise, but we’re still better off than last year, when sockeye salmon and sturgeon mortalities were being reported. This year, enough sockeye have entered the Columbia River and migrated upstream from McNary Dam for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife to open sockeye fisheries. Due to the debilitating losses of almost all spawning sockeye in the Okanogan River in 2015, fisheries managers are proceeding conservatively until it’s confirmed enough spawning fish make it into the Wenatchee and Okanogan rivers. As the run progresses upriver, sockeye seasons above Priest Rapids Dam are likely as long as water temperatures stay cool. Anglers should visit WDFW's website for more information.  

Drinking water | Drinking water supplies are not currently projected to be affected by shortages. Contact your local municipal water system to learn more.

What’s next

Tomorrow, the Water Supply Availability Committee (WSAC) will hold its monthly meeting. This committee is a team of experts from state and national agencies who review data and discuss potential water shortages. If conditions warrant, this committee can convene the Executive Water Emergency Committee (EWEC), which is made of state agency leaders with a stake in water supplies. These leaders assess findings from WSAC and determine whether water users in affected areas will likely incur undue hardships. EWEC can recommend the governor consider an emergency drought declaration.

How you can help

Outdoor water use accounts for nearly a third of daily water use by U.S. households. You can conserve water – and save money – by making a few tweaks to your outdoor routine:

• Purchase an inexpensive hose timer to avoid over-watering. Soaker hoses are also a great option for avoiding evaporation.
• Use a broom or electric blower to clean driveways and sidewalks, rather than hosing them off.

For more tips, visit our water conservation page. 

By Kristin Johnson-Waggoner, Water Resources Program communications manager

Watching the water supply

As the recent cool-down gives way to warmer, drier summer weather, we are closely monitoring our water supplies. Last year, a lack of snowpack and spring rain led to a drought that had statewide impacts. This year, our water supplies are currently stronger across the state but we’re watching areas of concern.

There are two groups that keep close tabs on our state’s water supply. The Water Supply Availability Committee (WSAC) is a team of experts from state and national agencies who meet monthly to review data and discuss potential water shortages. If challenging conditions are identified or projected, they will bring the information to the Executive Water Emergency Committee (EWEC). This committee is made of state agency leaders with a stake in water supplies (Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Health, Natural Resources, Ecology, Fish and Wildlife, etc.). These leaders assess findings from WSAC and determine whether water users within affected areas will likely incur undue hardships.

At its meeting in early June, EWEC did not issue an emergency drought recommendation to the governor, which they did in 2015. The group discussed areas of concern and will continue to monitor water supplies. They will meet again should conditions change.

To help keep you informed, we’ll be sharing regular water supply updates on this blog. (Click here to read an earlier post on this topic.)

Status of our supplies

Here’s a look at water supply conditions as of June 17:

Paradise on Mt. Rainier received a few inches of snow
this week (June 7 top; June 14 below), but most mountain
snowpack monitoring  stations are currently snow-free.
Photos: National Park  Service webcam

Weather impacts | Cooler, wetter weather helped improve river flows in on the west side of the state where spring rains were in short supply this year. Today, about 56 percent of stream gauges are at below-normal levels. A couple weeks ago, about 75 percent of our gauges were below normal. The eastern side of the state did not benefit as much from rain. Rivers fed by melting snow (the Methow, Wenatchee and Okanogan rivers, for example) were running high due to early melt but are now below normal. While snow fell at higher elevations this week, most of our snowpack monitoring stations are currently snow-free.

Agriculture | The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation manages several large reservoirs in the Yakima River Basin, an important agricultural center, to help farmers irrigate through the dry summer months. As of Saturday, the Bureau began releasing water – about a week earlier than average – from the reservoirs to downstream irrigators. Last year, this action began in mid-April. The Yakima reservoirs are fuller this year – at 98 percent capacity.

Drinking water | Drinking water supplies are in good shape and aren’t currently projected to be affected by shortages. Contact your local municipal water system for information specific to your community.

Cle Elum Lake is a reservoir managed by the U.S. Bureau 

of Reclamation.  

More information | Visit our Washington water supply information page to read about streamflow, snowpack, precipitation, forecasts and more. 

Focus on fish

Fishery populations across the state face challenges again this year. Low flows in some streams and rivers are stressing migrating juvenile salmon, and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife hatchery teams are already responding to warm water conditions. Water temperatures in the Columbia River are higher than average, even exceeding 2015 temperatures on some days earlier this spring. WDFW staff remain on alert for low-flow fish migration blockages and high water temperatures as we move into July.

How you can help

Water is a shared resource and we all have a responsibility to protect it. Here are two easy water conservation tips you can use at home:

• About 30 percent of our water use across the state goes to outdoor watering. When planting your landscape, consider drought-tolerant native plants and check to see a plant’s watering needs before you schedule your sprinklers.

• You can significantly reduce water use by simply repairing leaks in fixtures (faucets and showerheads), pipes and toilets. A leaky faucet wastes gallons of water in a short period of time. A leaky toilet can waste 200 gallons per day. That would be like flushing your toilet more than 50 times for no reason!

Check out this page for more tips.

By Kristin Johnson-Waggoner, Water Resources Program communications manager

Water supplies in better shape than last year

Lack of rain creating challenges in some parts of state

With summer around the corner and memories of last year’s drought still fresh, many people are curious about the state’s water supply. The good news is we are currently in better shape than last year, but we are closely monitoring parts of our state that are already experiencing challenging conditions.

Remember that spell of what felt like summer weather in April? Those record-warm temperatures led to record melting of our snowpack in the mountains. And we rely on that snowpack to feed many of our rivers and streams.

Snowpack takes a hit

Hurricane Ridge in the Olympic Mountains
Photo: National Park Service webcam

On April 1, the state’s snowpack was 111 percent of average! But today it’s 46 percent of average. Compare that to this time last year, when our snowpack was a measly 8 percent of average. We’ve lost a lot of snow the past two months, but we’re still in much better shape than we were at this time last year.

 “This winter, we had good snowpack overall and outstanding snowpack in north and central Washington. Then we lost – and are losing – that snowpack,” said Jeff Marti, environmental planner for the Dept. of Ecology Water Resources Program. “A number of the lower-elevation areas have melted completely. For example, data from the Walla Walla area is showing that it’s melted completely, which is the first area of state to melt. This area does usually melt sooner than other basins, but it’s a couple weeks earlier this year.”

It’s lack of precipitation

Some parts of our state, especially southwest Washington and the Olympic Peninsula, are experiencing dry conditions and rain-fed streams are being affected. Currently, 62 percent of stream gauges in state rivers are flowing at below-normal levels, mostly on the west side. The city of Forks, usually reliably rainy, is experiencing a 10-inch deficit of precipitation since April 1.

“Last year, we started with a snowpack drought and the watersheds dependent on snow were hurting. Then, in the spring, we dried out and incurred a precipitation-deficit drought. This year, conditions are manifesting with lack of precipitation. So far, conditions on snowpack-fed rivers are OK, but that’s because of the strong snowmelt. Over the next few weeks, our snowmelt rivers will transition from above normal to below normal conditions. They’re going to get lower just like our rain-fed rivers currently are,” Marti said.

Monitoring water supply

We are closely monitoring the state’s water supply and working with people across the state to protect water. While irrigation may be affected as we move into summer, we don’t expect to see any drinking water shortages.

Looking ahead, we are convening water experts in early June to discuss the current supply and whether additional action is needed. Check back to learn about the outcomes of those meetings.

Learn more

To read more about Washington’s water supply conditions, visit our water supply information page.

By Kristin Johnson-Waggoner, Water Resources Program communications manager

Water conservation activities for kids

Saving water is a family affair

by Lynne Geller, communications and outreach, Water Resources Program

Photo credit: Province of British Columbia

If there is one thing the 2015 drought is teaching us, it is not to take water for granted. (As of Oct. 20, 68% of our state is still in “extreme drought”.) Practicing water conservation every day, every year, just makes sense. Conserving simply means not wasting.

Why not make learning about water conservation enjoyable, for you and your family? The web has a wealth of free learning materials for kids of all ages. Spend some quality time with the kids in your life, learn some new things, and have some fun -- all at the same time. And along the way, understand more about the importance of water conservation and what you can do to save water.

Check out the Water Use It Wisely web pages. You will find interactive and downloadable games. You can go to the Tip Tank and learn water saving tips using a memory game of matching pictures (you may know the game as “Concentration”). Discover the role of water in our lives: Spin the earth to select a topic (for example, the water cycle, watersheds, using water wisely.) Then for each topic, there are games, quizzes and a video, plus other learning tools. Or have some fun testing your skill at saving raindrops, working against the clock.

WaterSense is a partnership program sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) which is all about using water efficiently. You have probably seen the WaterSense label on products like showerheads and toilets – and even new single-family homes! WaterSense Kids provides some basic water use information and then you are tested in a challenging “Test Your WaterSense” interactive game. Help your kids take a water drop through a maze of water pipes and answer water use questions, while being careful to not to be gobbled up by Water Wasters.

Try your hand at Washing Machine Basketball and other interactive games at conserveh2o.org. The site also has downloadable activity books where you can connect-the-dots, find your way through mazes, color by number, find the picture that doesn’t belong – and be learning about water and water conservation at the same time. 

If you are feeling a little more ambitious, look at the materials developed by WaterSense for kids grades 3 through 5: WaterSense materials for elementary-level kids. There are two sets of learning materials, A Day in the Life of a Drop and Fix a Leak Week. The web has a great selection of materials for educators.

These links are just a start. Conserving water in the home isn’t hard – it’s just about learning some easy things to do, and then remembering to do them! Start today, and make it a family affair.

End of the Drought? I think Not!

by Mark Guthrie, Landscape Water Conservation Program Manager, Seattle Public Utilities

In Washington, when it rains, it often pours! But that hasn’t happened yet, and the drought is not over. We’ve had some rain, but Seattle’s reservoirs have not refilled, and there are predictions that the fall, winter, and next spring may be warmer and drier than normal. So keep conserving water! Conservation is important— and not just for drinking water from our reservoirs, but also for healthy fish habitat. Now is the time of year when salmon return and need higher river levels and stream flows to spawn successfully.

Here are some tips to help you conserve water in your landscape this fall and winter:

Stop watering

As temperatures become cooler and the days shorter, plants enter the initial phase of dormancy when no water is needed. This is the time to adjust your irrigation system for the cooler seasons.

• Fix leaky sprinkler heads and broken nozzles.
• Turn off your automatic irrigation timer.
• Before it freezes, turn off the water supply to your irrigation system, drain water (if possible), and insulate above-ground pipes.
• Remove the cup or bowl of your irrigation system’s rain sensor and place a cover over the remaining rain sensor.

Weed and mulch

After your fall clean-up and weeding, add a 2–3 inch layer of mulch to the soil surface. Arborist wood chips work best around woody plants and trees, while fall leaves or compost should go around perennials. Mulch helps protect plant roots during freezing weather. Mulch also helps reduce water evaporation, blocks weeds, prevents erosion by winter rains and feeds the soil. If next spring is warm and dry, your mulching will be much appreciated!

Water young trees efficiently

We’re getting some rain, but not quite enough for our trees, especially after the record hot, dry summer. Young trees planted within the last 5 years should still be watered once per week. Save our water and our trees by watering efficiently with a 15 or 20 gallon water bag.

  

Questions?

Contact the Garden Hotline for free answers to your gardening questions!
(206) 633‑0224 or www.gardenhotline.org

Visit www.savingwater.org for more watering tips and lots of information about environmentally friendly lawn and garden care.

From city lots to irrigated crops—working with your conservation district to find the right water conservation solution for you

by Laura Johnson, Communications Coordinator, Washington State Conservation Commission

In 2015, Washingtonians began making jokes about “the rain drop” becoming the newest endangered species. But our drought is no laughing matter. Gardens wilted, streams ran dry, and crops were lost.

The drought impacted communities across Washington in different ways. Fortunately, each county is served by at least one conservation district, and they can help you find the right water conservation strategy for your property. The following are examples of projects conservation districts may be able to help you with.

Around the home: Water-wise landscaping

Heritage Garden
Benton Conservation District

• Heritage Gardens promote the use of native, culturally significant plants and low water-use landscaping. These are sprouting up throughout the United States. Converting lawn to Heritage Gardens can save thousands of gallons of water per year, protecting landscapes during drought years like 2015 and into the future. Benton and Franklin Conservation Districts, in partnership with the Columbia Basin Chapter of the Washington Native Plant Society, are implementing a Heritage Garden Program that offers local landowners free information, on-site recommendations, and a workshop on November 14. Learn more about Benton Conservation District’s response to the drought.

• Smartscaping or Xeriscaping provides another lawn alternative. These landscapes include a mix of plants, trees, and edibles that require little to no irrigation, even in periods of drought. Spokane Conservation District’s SmartScape website provides free tips, plant suggestions, and even landscape designs to help you get started. 

• When the clouds finally break, rain gardens allow you to use runoff from hard surfaces, such as roofs and driveways, to water your plants. They also replenish groundwater and reduce ground pollutants. Kitsap Conservation District offers free site visits to landowners in unincorporated Kitsap County to discuss options, and they may be able to offer financial assistance. Several conservation districts, especially in the Puget Sound region, also offer low-cost rain barrel workshops. Or, watch a video on how to build a rain barrel from Snohomish Conservation District.

On the farm: Using less and retaining more

Sprinkler irrigation system
Kittitas Conservation District

• Improving irrigation efficiency builds drought resilience by reducing water use and reducing the amount of sediment and pollutants that flow off fields into nearby waterways. Many conservation districts offer cost-share to help landowners cover the expense of upgrading to more water-efficient irrigation systems, such as center pivot sprinklers. In the last two years Kittitas County Conservation District has assisted over 12 landowners with sprinkler conversion projects.

• Many conservation districts across the state help landowners implement Irrigation Water Management (IWM). IWM plans help landowners determine the volume, frequency, and application of irrigation water for the most efficient water use. The plans are based on specific site conditions, such as soil type, crop grown, and slope.

• Direct seed and no-till farming not only improves soil health, it also benefits water conservation. Conventional plow-based tillage buries crop residue (stalks, stubble, and leaves left after a crop is harvested) in the ground. With direct seed and no-till practices, crop residue is retained on the surface. The residue helps increase water infiltration and reduce evaporation. Many conservation districts offer direct seed equipment rental programs. You can learn more about the practice on this fact sheet from Spokane Conservation District.

Learn more

Conservation districts offer a range of voluntary services to help you conserve natural resources on farms, forests, ranch land, water- and river-front properties, and in urban and suburban areas. Find your district today using this Conservation District Map, and visit the Washington State Conservation Commission website for more information.