03/20/2006: "Dept. of Ecology: No Drought This Year"

As Washington is pummeled by a late winter storm that continues to dump rain and heavy snow across the state, the threat of repeating last year's drought emergency has all but evaporated.

At this same time last year, unusually warm, dry weather pushed state water supplies into deficit levels. No appreciable precipitation occurred during February 2005, state streams were flowing at record-setting lows and mountain snow pack was a mere 26 percent of normal. On March 10, 2005, a drought proclamation was issued by the Department of Ecology.

Right now, mountain snow packs are approximately 115 percent of normal. Streams are flowing at normal levels and residents are looking at more cold temperatures and winter weather.

Department of Ecology officials are breathing easier this year. Normal to above-average precipitation, stream flows and mountain snow conditions in February and early March typically mean a diminished risk of drought this summer and fall.

"I can't describe how great a relief it is not to have back-to-back drought years," said Ecology Director Jay Manning. "The threats to our economy and our environment would have been staggering. I'm hoping that the cool, wet weather pattern will hold until summer."

Manning extended his appreciation to Governor Gregoire and state lawmakers for providing $8.2 million for drought relief in 2005. The money helped ease the burden many farmers, communities, hatcheries and wild fish runs faced during the 2005 drought emergency.

Ecology maintains a Web site that tracks Washington water-supply conditions, including information about current mountain snow pack, stream flow and weather conditions. The site also contains up-to-date information comparing 2005 and 2006. It can be found at: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wr/drought/2005/drthm.html