Gov. Jay Inslee declared a drought emergency in an additional 13 river basins in Washington State because of low snowpack that will reduce streamflow in coming months. Coupled with a March 17 declaration covering 11 other watersheds, 44 percent of the state is covered by a drought emergency. “This year, run-off from snowmelt for the period April through September is projected to be the lowest on record in the past 64 years,” said the state Department of Ecology. Below-normal snowmelt is expected to create hardship for people, farms and fish. “Once an area has been declared in drought, it can qualify for drought-relief funds that can be used for leasing water rights for irrigators, deepening wells or drilling emergency wells,” said the Ecology Department, which has requested $9 million for drought relief.
The drought declarations cover much of central and western Washington. Statewide, snowpack is 24 percent of normal, which is lower than in 2005 when a statewide drought was declared. “This is an ongoing emergency and we’re going to have some long, hard months ahead of us,” said Inslee in a statement. State officials said all of Washington could be classified as drought-stricken by early May, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Oregon Gov. Kate Brown has declared a drought emergency in five of Oregon’s 36 counties and is expected to add “at least several more to the list soon,” said public broadcaster KUOW in Seattle.
Overall, 61 percent of land in 11 states in the West is rated in drought, according to the Drought Monitor, ranging from more than 98 percent of California, Nevada and Oregon to 82 percent of Oregon and 28 percent of Washington. Montana and Wyoming are nearly free of drought. Oregon and Washington are major producers of fruits, vegetables and nursery crops, as well as wheat.