Worst dry spell in almost three decades

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP)--Gov. Christine Gregoire declared a statewide drought emergency, anticipating what weather forecasters predict will be the Pacific Northwest's worst dry spell in nearly three decades.

Gregoire made her announcement March 10 before an audience of farmers in the already arid Yakima Valley. The last statewide drought emergency was declared by Gov. Gary Locke in 2001.

"While water shortages won't affect all areas of the state in precisely the same way, it seems very likely that all areas of our state will experience at least some level of drought this year," Gregoire said.

In the declaration, Gregoire creates an interstate agency to coordinate the government's response, calls for $8.2 million more in drought-related state appropriations and orders the National Guard to prepare to combat wildfires this summer.

The governor's announcement didn't come a moment too soon for Charlie de la Chapelle, who grows apples and pears in the lower Yakima Valley, and his fellow farmers.

"We've been in this industry for four generations and this is the worst we've had," he said. "There will be dead and dying trees in July and we will have to triage to save the most valuable crops."

The water shortage hurts farmers, hydroelectric power production, fish production, irrigation and other sectors of the region's agribusiness economy--and has people worried about an unusually bad fire season.

Gregoire's emergency declaration authorizes the state Department of Ecology to issue emergency water permits and temporary transfers of water rights. It also releases funds from the state's Drought Emergency Account.

"Unfortunately, I cannot promise that everyone will get all the water they want," said Jay Manning, who heads the ecology department. "In some cases, we will be able to provide only enough water for people to get by."

Manning's agency will work with the state agriculture, health, and fish and wildlife departments to ensure state resources get to the right places.

The state Conservation Commission will work with local conservation districts and farmers on best practices for conservation and irrigation, Manning said.

The Employment Security Department will work to get jobless benefits to people thrown out of work as a result of the unusually dry conditions.

Using lessons learned in the 2001 drought, many farmers, hatcheries and communities are not caught flat-footed, Manning said in a statement.

Some areas are using treated waste water for landscape irrigation, replenishing wetlands and washing equipment. Farmers have replaced open ditches with pipes and irrigators are getting more efficient, he said.

"For most areas," Gregoire said, "every drop of water we save now is water that will be available later when we may really need it."

Date: 3/24/05