Oak leaves are falling, and chilly foggy mornings have arrived: a seasonal sign that summer is over, and autumn is officially here.

And while drought feels like a summertime problem, Washington state is still experiencing water shortages statewide.

At the end of the year, the drought emergency will be re-evaluated, but Washington State Department of Ecology expects this drought to last through next year. Locally, both the Elwha and Dungeness rivers’ flow is below normal, and the City of Port Angeles is still in a Stage 3 water shortage.

We are primarily in a drought because much of Washington depends on winter snowpack as a water source. Back in May, our snowpack in the Olympics was at 54% of normal. Ecology reported that last December was the third-warmest on record in the state’s history. Overall, the trend is that snowpack-based droughts are becoming more common here.

This drought is an accumulation of decreasing snowpack, warming temperatures and less water melting off into our local waterways.

And unfortunately, a few days of rain will not be enough to overturn these drought conditions alone. So as this drought continues, reducing our water use throughout the colder seasons is still incredibly important.

Locals reducing their water use

I had the honor of discussing numerous water conservation tips at some recent community events. It was inspiring to hear all the creative and unique ways residents are taking action to conserve water in their own yards.

Here are some of the ways people in our community are saving water:

“The water in my bathroom sink takes a long time to heat up in the morning. While I’m waiting for the water to get hot, I collect it in a glass bowl. Then I use all that water for my flowers out on the porch.”

“I never let the faucet water run unless I’m using it. If I’m brushing my teeth, washing dishes, [I] always turn the water off until I need it.”

“I’ve let my lawn go brown for years. I love it when summer comes around and it stops growing, it means I don’t have to mow!”

“Collecting rainwater has been a great way to water my garden. I rarely need to use hose water now.”

“I like to hand wash some of my dishes in a sink tub, then I’m able to collect and transfer that water to my plants.”

“Love the look of a yellow lawn in summer and it saves me so much on my water bill.”

“I like to gather materials in my yard, such as pine needles and leaves, to use as deep mulch to slow drying of [my] soil.”

All of these simple tips are great ways to reduce water use in your landscape at home. If you’d like more information about how to save water in your outdoor spaces or resources about this year’s drought, check out our website: extension.wsu.edu/clallam/water-conservation. Reducing your water in a way that wasn’t listed here? Send us email to share your water conservation tips!

Correction: In my last article “Supporting Small Farms in Dry Times” (Sequim Gazette, Sept. 25, page A-9), I incorrectly stated that Tahlequah Farm uses well water to irrigate their currant farm. Cyndi Ross of Tahlequah Farm only uses irrigation water to water the farm. This means those soil sensors are even more important because Ross only has access to irrigation water from April 15-Sept. 15. My apologies for any potential confusion this caused.

Sammi Grieger is the Water Conservation Coordinator at the WSU Clallam County Extension Office in Port Angeles. Contact her at samantha.grieger@wsu.edu.