Understanding the 2024 drought:
On April 16, the Department of Ecology declared a drought emergency across the state of Washington, with exceptions for the Seattle, Everett and Tacoma metro areas, legally announcing that, 1) our water supply in the state is below 75% of average, and 2) and there is “a risk of undue hardship to water users and uses.”
In other words: we are in a drought because there is not enough water accessible to meet the water needs of the environment. Various facets of our water cycle are changing across the state. These have led to reoccurring drought conditions, which various governmental and tribal agencies monitor closely every year.
For one, low snowpack is becoming more common, both here in the Olympic Mountains and throughout the Cascades. At the end of April, the snow water equivalent in the Dungeness-Elwha watershed was only at 49% of normal. We also experienced an unusually dry and warm spring.
Demands for water are high. Outdoor watering is the largest use of water by far for residents and homeowners. Nationwide, more than 30% of the 29 billion gallons of water used daily in households is for outside. In drier climates — and during warm summer months — outdoor use can be as high as 70% per household.
Ecology estimates that in Washington state at least 80% of residential outdoor water use is lost from the immediate water environment.
Who’s at risk?
A drought emergency is when water users are at risk of “undue hardship.” So, who are these water users most at risk? First, we have our farmers at the frontlines, since they rely on irrigation water from streams to grow their crops.
Communities whose drinking water is dependent on streams, such as some in western Clallam County, are also extremely vulnerable during drought.
Just like humans, our local flora and fauna, especially salmon, need ample streamflow to survive during dry summer conditions. These vulnerable entities, both salmon and agriculture alike, have led to collaborative efforts to find ways to save water in the Dungeness watershed for decades.
The goal of this bi-monthly summer column is to illuminate current water conservation efforts happening in our communities. We will learn how tribes, farmers, civil employees, organizers and volunteers are applying their ingenuity to develop resilient water practices.
Perhaps as we learn their stories, we can also begin to ask: what’s my relationship with water? What is my role in our water cycle? How can we continue to collectively work for an equitable and responsible water future? Whether it’s a farmer patching their irrigation drip tape, salmon searching for a pool to spawn in, or a gardener pruning their flowering shrub: we all rely on water’s presence.
How can you save water?
• Go for gold — Let your lawn go dormant in summer. When rain returns in the fall, your grass will turn green again, just like the trees and shrubs in springtime.
• Leave it long — Taller turf grass promotes deeper roots. The deeper the roots, the healthier the plant. Mow less to allow deeper root development.
• Ample and infrequent — Focus on watering outdoor plants deeply and less frequently. Deep watering is more effective than numerous superficial waterings.
• Water early — Watering in the morning reduces evaporation loss.
• Mulch — Placing mulch around the surface of trees, plantings and garden crops reduces water loss.
• Drip over sprinkle — Consider using a trickle or drip irrigation hose in place of an overhead sprinkler for more direct watering.
Check out the the WSU Clallam County Extension website (extension.wsu.edu/clallam/water-conservation) for more outdoor water saving tips, resources about the drought, information about local water management entities, water conservation events and more.
Already reducing your water use? Send us an email at samantha.grieger@wsu.edu to share your water conservation tips and potentially be featured in a future issue!
Sammi Grieger is the Water Conservation Coordinator at the WSU Clallam County Extension Office in Port Angeles. Contact Grieger at samantha.grieger@wsu.edu.
