Water ouitlook worrisome
Washington Ag Today February 10, 2010 Washington’s declining snow pack is increasingly worrisome to water managers and given the latest water supply outlook from the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, that agency says the anxiety may be justified. Scott Pattee, water supply specialist with the NRCS in Mt. Vernon says snow pack conditions statewide are 74 percent of average, down from 84 percent just a month ago. He says water managers are concerned there will not be enough runoff to fill reservoirs and supply irrigation and municipal systems to adequate levels this summer. And the weather outlook is not promising. Pattee: “The Climate Prediction Center is still forecasting above average temperatures and below average precipitation, which doesn‘t bode well for getting much more snow. Also looks like for the near future we are going to be locked into a high pressure ridge, which is pretty much negative to any moisture. They are talking about a little bit but not very much at all.” Some snow pack numbers for some specific river basins from the NRCS include the Yakima area at 77 percent of average; Wenatchee area at 87 percent; Walla Walla at 73 percent and the Spokane at 57 percent. Only the Olympic Peninsula has above average snow pack. Over 250 Washington state youth will take on the roles of lobbyists at the annual Washington State University Extension 4-H Know Your Government Conference in Olympia, Feb. 13-16 at the Red Lion Hotel. Teens will lobby for and against active bills being considered in the legislature in mock committee hearings. I’m Bob Hoff and that’s Washington Ag Today on the Northwest Ag Information Network.
