Department of Ecology prepares emergency plan

By STEVE BROWN
Capital Press

OLYMPIA -- Several legislators acknowledged the irony of rain outside the windows -- and another foot of snow falling in the Cascade Mountains -- as they tackled the serious job of preparing for drought.

The Joint Legislative Committee on Water Supply During Drought convened March 11, the final day of the regular 60-day session, to hear about water supply conditions across the state.

Ken Slattery, water resources manager at the state Department of Ecology, said El Niño has been moderate to strong through late 2009, meaning warmer and drier than normal conditions, and it is expected to persist into summer.

"Much of the precipitation in the mountains has been in rain instead of snow," he said. Approximately three-fourths of Washington's surface water supplies come from mountain snowmelt.

Higher temperatures usually mean higher water demand with lower water availability, he said.

As Slattery displayed maps of stream and snow statistics, he described specific trends to expect in 2010:

* Central Washington faces severe shortages, similar to last year.

* Fish passage, flow and habitat problems are likely through the summer and fall.

* Small water systems could have problems with wells and diversions.

* Larger systems believe they'll get by without extraordinary measures.

* Groundwater supplies in the Spokane Basin and farther north are "the areas we need to watch most closely."

* Ecology won't need to regulate conditional water rights on the mainstem Columbia, but it likely will on several Columbia tributaries. "We'll be seeking voluntary conservation," he said.

* Proratable users in the Yakima Basin will likely receive 77 percent of entitlements.

* "There's good snow up in Canada, but water coming out of Idaho is pretty skimpy this year," he said.

* Current numbers are expected to decline, "but a wet spring could make a difference."

Slattery pointed out that there is no funding available for a drought response in the current budget, but that Gov. Chris Gregoire has asked for $4.24 million for drought relief in the budget that starts July 1.

Relief projects would be triggered when two conditions are met: Water supplies are below 75 percent of normal and a likelihood of undue hardships.

Making those determinations would be the legislative Water Supply Availability Committee and the Executive Water Emergency Committee, convened by the governor. Ecology Director Ted Sturdevant would declare which areas are effected, with the approval of the governor. State agencies would develop programs to address the specific issues.

Sturdevant told the legislators that short water conditions are nothing new to agencies or water users. "Drought is cyclical, so folks are prepared to move water around. We're not trying to sound loud alarm bells. ... Drought allows tools of quicker response."

Slattery said the $4.24 million, requested to be transferred from Disaster Preparedness, would be used only if and where drought is declared, to relieve agricultural and fish and wildlife supplies.

"The money would make it possible for people to keep using water and to keep water in the creeks," he said. Specifically, projects could include deepening wells, creating emergency connections between water systems, leasing water rights for public water supply systems and leasing water to assure streamflows.

In 2001, Slattery said, some money went to reimburse Bonneville Power Administration for lost power revenues.

The joint committee will receive no less than monthly updates from Ecology.

State laws allow Ecology to authorize emergency withdrawal of public surface and ground waters and to approve a temporary change in purpose, place of use or point of diversion, consistent with state policy allowing transfer or lease of waters between willing parties.

Online

Committee: www.leg.wa.gov/jointcommittees/WSDD

Current water supply information: www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wr/ws/wtrsuply.html

Drought preparations: www.ecy.wa.gov/drought/index.html