On
March 10, 2005 Gov. Christine Gregoire authorized the Washington State
Department of Ecology (DOE) to declare a statewide drought emergency.
In 2006, water supply conditions were deemed adequate, indeed plentiful,
so a drought was not declared.
In 2005, there
was concern since droughts can have far-reaching impacts to fish,
wildlife and their habitats, as well as commercial and recreational
uses of fish and wildlife. WDFW completed drought projects totaling
$393,000 in the following areas:
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Improving
hatchery water supply |
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Preventing
fish disease at hatcheries (due to high temperatures) |
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Fish and stream
monitoring specifically for impacts from low flows |
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Improved
and safer water access area ramps in selected areas subjected
to extreme low flows |
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Removing barriers
to fish migration at low flows and generally improving fish migration,
including removal of recreational play dams. |
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Volunteers
de-constructing a temporary weir that enhanced passage for salmonids
up Box Canyon Creek. |
Drought:
Frequently Asked Questions
Are we in a
drought now?
No, conditions
for 2006 and 2007 were above normal for water supply and snowpack.
To be considered a drought, the governor must make a drought declaration
which is based on a lower than normal snowpack thus impacting public
water supplies.
If a drought
were to be declared in the future, how could migration and spawning
of salmon and other fish be affected?
Drought can
have a variety of negative impacts on salmon and other fish populations
at several points of their life cycles.
The downstream
migration of juvenile salmon in the spring is linked to the surge
in stream flows created by runoff from melting snow in the mountains.
With mountain snow packs either well below average or completely
gone, there could be some change on out-migration patterns as young
fish attempt to reach saltwater to continue their life cycle. Adult
salmon can have difficulties reaching upstream spawning grounds
if river flows remain below normal. This holds true particularly
for early-returning species, such as spring chinook salmon in Columbia
River tributaries like the Walla Walla and Yakima Rivers.
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Volunteers
help pull nightshade plants out of Chimacum Creek that blocked
summer chum migration. Summer chum are listed under the Endangered
Species Act. |
In 2005 a cooperative
effort in Walla Walla and Dungeness resulted in release of some
water (also called “pulse flows”) to assist upstream
migrating fish.
Some
salmon species spawn in channel margins, side channels and smaller
tributaries. Spawning would have to occur in mainstem waters if
those other areas are unavailable because of low flows. This could
make salmon nests, known as redds, and the eggs incubating in
them, more susceptible to bed scour during the fall and winter.
In
other cases, instream flow can drop after the salmon spawn. Salmon
nests are then dewatered and the eggs within them are lost. Impacts
of drought can result in depressed salmons runs three to five years
later, when those fish would be returning as adults.
One
thing that individuals can do is to make sure that any human instream
activities do not block upstream passage of fish. This includes building
rock dams in the river for playing around during hot weather. We ask
that you please dismantle these when you are done, or at least notch
them so fish may pass by when they begin their migration in the fall
months.
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| WCC
crew gets ready to tackle a recreational dam that was blocking
fish migration on the Taneum Creek. |
How can warm
water temperatures affect fish?
Warmer-than-normal
stream temperatures and low dissolved-oxygen levels in isolated
pools can lead to fish deaths both in wild populations and at WDFW
fish hatcheries. Just as reduced water levels affect wild spawners,
reduced water supply can lead to warmer water temperatures and thus
result in increased fish disease, treatment costs and fish mortality.
Some of the likely causes of problems are fungal and bacterial diseases,
which can kill fish or lead to fewer fish eggs.
Many of our
hatcheries depend on a clean and consistent source of water. So,
during a drought, hatcheries can be at risk because of lack of water
of sufficient quality and quantity to rear fish. WDFW sometimes
might be required to pump water from wells, which adds significant
costs to operations.
How are wildlife
populations affected by drought?
The severity
of the impacts of drought on wildlife populations can vary from
area to area. Generally, less water equates to less food and therefore
fewer young for all wildlife (fawns, elk calves, and so on). Small,
shallow ponds can dry up completely, affecting aquatic wildlife
such as ducks, geese, upland birds, and reducing habitat for waterfowl
and other wildlife such as amphibians and insects which provide
food for other species. In addition, drought effects can be felt
for several years afterwards if groundwater is not recharged.
Conflicts between
humans and wildlife can occur as dry conditions reduce wildlife
forage for deer, elk and black bears, and these animals are pushed
closer to humans to find food. Conflicts with farmers and ranchers
can occur when wildlife are attracted to irrigated crops as more
succulent and palatable than drought-stressed native vegetation.
This can lead to increased damage claims against the state by agricultural
producers.
Effects may
be felt beyond a drought year due to fewer young elk or deer being
born or a reduction in the number of young salmon growing to adulthood.
What did WDFW
do during the 2005 drought?
Refer
to the link on the left to the WDFW Drought Closeout report for more
information.
What is WDFW
doing to prepare for the next drought?
WDFW
fish biologists are constantly monitoring streams and rivers in our
state’s watersheds for potential downstream migration problems
related either to low flows or increased water temperatures. Other
biologists work with watershed planning units on the local level to
address low flow issues that are ongoing.
WDFW made changes
to fish-rearing structures and strategies at its own hatcheries and
may need to do more in anticipation of future low flows. For instance,
fish ladders that assist adult salmon and steelhead returning to the
hatchery for spawning may have to be modified to facilitate passage
and collection of adult fish.
WDFW improved some
wells and conveyance systems during the 2005 drought to increase delivery
and prevent water leakage, which should help in future droughts as well.
The department recycles hatchery water supplies and/or providing additional
oxygenation at several facilities in order to make more efficient use
of existing water supplies. WDFW also has a plan for reducing water
use at all its facilities
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