WA Dept. of Ecology highlight agricultural concerns amid statewide drought declaration

COLUMBIA BASIN, WA. - The Washington State Department of Ecology (WSDOE) is sounding the alarm bells following their Tuesday, April 16 statewide drought emergency declaration.

Ecology leaders tell KEPR News that forecasted runoff continues to be below the state’s statutory threshold for drought conditions. That threshold is met when an area is expected to receive less than 75 percent of normal water supply and there is a risk of undue hardship for water users and the environment. The state relies on streamflow forecasts provided by the National Weather Service and the Natural Resources Conservation Service and also considers data for precipitation, soil moisture, and other factors.

While concerns vary across the state, except for Seattle, Tacoma, and Everett, which face no drought concerns, agricultural areas such as the Columbia Basin could face harsh effects.

"We do have concerns and anticipate that some food producers might have to fallow land and cease irrigation, which could lead to crop stress or reduce yields due to inadequate water supply," said Caroline Mellor, who works as a statewide drought lead for WSDOE. "As for folks who have water rights, there is concern that farmers with junior water rights may be interrupted earlier this year due to these conditions."

Ecology is making up to $4.5 million available in drought response grants to qualifying public entities to respond to impacts from the current drought conditions. Ecology says the funds are first come first serve and noted that previous expenditures used in past droughts include, processing emergency water right permits, leasing water from irrigators growing annual crops for instream and out-of-stream uses, funding emergency infrastructure for communities and irrigators, and resolving fish passage barriers.

More information on the drought can be found, here.