Most of WA remains in drought conditions
R. HANS MILLER | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 11 months AGO
Managing Editor Rob Miller is a 4-year U.S. Army veteran who grew up in Western Montana in a community about the size of Soap Lake. An honors graduate of Texas State University, he enjoys spending time with his wife, Brandee, and their three dogs, Draco, Pepper and Cinnamon. He has one son, William. During his free time, he enjoys photography, video games, reading and working on the house he and his wife bought in Ephrata. He is passionate about the First Amendment and educating communities. | July 15, 2024 12:40 AM
OLYMPIA — The Washington Department of Ecology has announced that most of the state remains in a drought despite a wetter-than-average June. A drought was declared for most of the state in April.
“The April drought declaration enabled folks to start thinking about options to mitigate drought impacts for this summer and make best use of relief options,” said Caroline Mellor, Ecology’s statewide drought lead.
According to a report from Ecology, impacts include hardships for hatcheries due to low streamflows and warmer temperatures and multiple areas in the Columbia and Yakima basins are dryer than usual. Farmers are expected to receive less irrigation water with Yakima Basin irrigators getting about 51% of their usual allotment. The Columbia Basin is expected to be the fourth driest its been since 1949. Much of the problem is related to reduced runoff from mountain snowpacks from ranges that feed water into Eastern Washington.
“We continue to see low runoff and low seasonal volume forecasts,” said the Northwest River Forecast Center Senior Hydrologist Amy Burke “Runoff and water supply forecasts remain lower than normal, with water supply forecasts near record low in many places.”
Data published by the NWRFC indicates that precipitation for the winter was only at 74% of normal as of Jan. 3.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Lower Columbia Basin saw 106% of its median rainfall in May, the most recent month for which data was available. The Central Columbia Basin saw 60% and the Upper Columbia Basin saw about 75% median precipitation during that same month. While the Lower Columbia Basin received more rain, that didn’t offset the lack of snowpack or less moisture north in the watershed overall.
Irrigation water availability projections are generally down statewide for agricultural purposes.
MORE STORIES

Water works: Columbia Basin Project making progress with Odessa Subarea
basinbusinessjournal | Updated 1 year, 6 months ago
ARTICLES BY R. HANS MILLER

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR: Congrats to the Class of 2025
Over the last two weeks, I’ve had the distinct privilege of running a newsroom that covers more than a dozen high school graduations and one college graduation. Students, armed with knowledge, grit, sass and an absolutely wonderful desire to push for their dreams walked across football fields, stages, basketball courts and other venues to receive their paper that says they are, officially, done with a chapter of their lives. I would encourage the Class of 2025 to remember something, and this is something that took me probably longer than it should have to realize: Everything up to high school is just a lesson, and life as an adult is the final exam. That may sound a little daunting, and it is, but there’s something even more important to remember: You’ve had good teachers for this test.

Gorge shooting suspect appears in court
EPHRATA – James Kelly, the suspect in the June 2023 shooting at the Beyond Wonderland music festival, appeared in court Tuesday morning when his defense team requested a continuance for his omnibus hearing.
111th graduating class strolls out in style in Ephrata
EPHRATA — About 200 students strolled, cavorted, lightsaber-battled and marched their way onto the Ephrata High School football field last Friday evening. Some wore honor cords showing accomplishments, some had decorated mortar boards and others a look of relief that their day had finally come. Student speaker, Charles Flynn, a graduating senior and outgoing Associated Student Body president, thanked the teachers, staff, parents and others who’d helped him and his classmates reach their educational and other goals. “I would also like to thank the class behind me,” Flynn said while at the podium, facing the gathered audience. “Many of us have grown up with each other since grade school, making mistakes and maturing from them along the way, staying up late to complete work, then waking up early to turn it in, going to football games and bonfires. All of these moments have given me the utmost confidence in the class sitting behind me. Today is not merely a heartfelt goodbye, but it is also a new beginning.”