Gov. Inslee Declares Drought Emergency for Columbia Basin, Wenatchee Areas

At first glance, many irrigation districts across Southeastern Washington thought it would be tight this summer with water supplies, but now further examination shows possible, or probable, drought conditions.

  We don't always agree with Gov. Inslee on issues, but on this one, he's taken good pre-emptive steps to head off what could be a very dry season in the Columbia Basin.   Near record low snowpacks in the Cascades, and melting snow that normally lingers into late spring will likely contribute to possible shortages this summer.

Kennewick Irrigation District estimates it will receive 73% of it's normal water allocation this year, and Roza Irrigation District is in the same situation.  Benton and Sunnyside Districts do have some additional water supplies that are not regulated or limited, but they too are prepared to scale back.

Gov. Inslee released this statement Friday:

 “We can’t wait any longer, we have to prepare now for drought conditions that are in store for much of the state, snowpack is at record lows, and we have farms, vital agricultural regions, communities and fish that are going to need our support.”

The Washington State Department of Ecology is asking for $9 million in drought relief from the legislature, which would be used for a variety of measures designed to provide water to help agricultural and fishery projects among others.

Some areas of the Cascades are seeing only 45% of normal snowpack, some less than 10% of normal. Plus, warmer weather is melting what snow is up there already.  Usually, larger snowfalls gradually melt off, providing runoff to streams and rivers that we see throughout the summer.

No irrigation districts have officially said if any water limitations will be placed on residential consumers yet this summer.