Topsoil and subsoil moisture levels continue to decline in the Pacific Northwest, where streamflows have shriveled to record or near-record lows, says the weekly Drought Monitor. Topsoil was rated as short or very short of moisture in 80 percent of Oregon, 65 percent of Washington State and 52 percent of Idaho. Subsoil ratings were similarly short in each of the three states. “Crop harvesting continued, and while most crops were in fair to good condition across the region, 32% of the winter wheat crop in Oregon was rated in poor to very poor condition,” said the Monitor.
“Warm stream temperatures due to low flows and hot weather caused fish trauma and disease, and fish kills, which prompted the closing of streams to all fishing along the Washington Cascades,” said the weekly report. Drought ratings worsened throughout the region. Early this week, Reuters quoted an Oregon wildlife official as saying unseasonably warm water in the lower Columbia River killed nearly half of the sockeye salmon migrating upstream. “We’ve never had mortalities at this scale,” said fisheries manager John North.
After years of drought in California, “growers are switching to more profitable, less-thirsty fruits, vegetables and nuts,” says NPR, which visited a San Diego County grower who is shifting to wine after three generations of the family had grown citrus. Says Gary Broomell, “With the water problems and all the things that are going on, we’re looking for something that takes a little less water, and grapes seem to be it.” Grapes use 25-percent less water than citrus trees. The number of wineries in San Diego County has tripled in recent years while the price of water has doubled. Other growers are converting to nurseries or niche crops such as pomegranates. Economist Dan Sumner at UC-Davis says California will move toward vineyards and orchards with higher-value fruit to offset high water prices.