| OLYMPIA - Copious rainfall in the past few days won't make a
dent in the statewide drought, state Ecology Department
officials said yesterday.
"Unfortunately, it is the old adage of too little, too
late," said Doug McChesney, a hydrogeologist with the
Department of Ecology. "This week's rain and snow only
mean that we aren't falling behind as fast - precipitation
amounts are still well below what is typical for this time of
year."
Low snowpack and skimpy rainfall this winter in Washington
mean runoff will be about half of normal this spring and
summer. Gov. Gary Locke formally declared a statewide drought
emergency March 14.
Irrigators are being hit hard by the drought. Last week,
Ecology said it notified 180 people in the Methow, Wenatchee
and Okanogan river basins that they might have to stop using
water soon.
The Department of Ecology now is considering a proposal to
reduce the minimum required flow in the Columbia River so
about 300 farmers could continue drawing at least some water
from the river this summer. The agency held a public hearing
Monday night in Wenatchee, and Ecology Director Tom
Fitzsimmons will meet with Locke before making a decision.
Fitzsimmons said the difference between water-right holders
on the Columbia River and those in the Methow, Wenatchee and
Okanogan basins is that Columbia River farms are larger, and
their failures would hurt Washington's economy more.
The Ecology Department also is urging ordinary households
to save water. People can water their lawns early in the
morning or late in the evening. In Western Washington,
officials said, people can let their lawns go without water
the entire summer and the grass will recover during the winter
months.
The department said owners of older homes should equip
their toilets, faucets and showerheads with water-efficient
fixtures. Some local utilities offer free fixtures or rebates. |