{
  "$type": "site.standard.document",
  "bskyPostRef": {
    "cid": "bafyreigi6lulpkmycozc4uxepos66p4ihoicso6snq6lpcrpocaumxpqse",
    "uri": "at://did:plc:472kbdaypczvvpvxpx522246/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkxjf6mhlai2"
  },
  "coverImage": {
    "$type": "blob",
    "ref": {
      "$link": "bafkreia43b5m2w3bbtw7ra4z7s2phgocedggggn5bmeckjncs2swyfwpp4"
    },
    "mimeType": "image/png",
    "size": 36157
  },
  "path": "/2026/05/the-is-no-drought-emergency-in.html",
  "publishedAt": "2026-05-03T04:40:00.000Z",
  "site": "https://cliffmass.blogspot.com",
  "textContent": "**On April 8, Washington State declared a DROUGHT EMERGENCY for Washington State. **\n\nIn fact, this is the fourth year in a row that the Washington State Department of Ecology has done so.\n\n**As described below, these drought emergency declarations are unwarranted and are contradictory to meteorological facts and the actual impacts.**\n\nLet me remind you about the definitions of _emergency_ and _drought_.\n\nAn emergency must be sudden and unexpected, requiring immediate action to prevent imminent danger. It is a crisis. As I will prove below, this does not characterize what has happened in Washington this year or the past few years.\n\n\n\n\nThe term \"drought\" means both MUCH drier than normal conditions and significant negative impacts of the dryness.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nHalf the years have below-normal precipitation. Half the years have below-normal snowpack. All these below-normal years are not drought years.\n\n\n**Let us consider the water situation this year.**\n\nThe major reservoirs of our state are full or WAY above normal in water storage. Some examples\"\n\nSeattle: much above normal.\n\nEverett: much above normal\n\n\nThe critically important Yakima River reservoir system: FULL and much above normal.\n\n\nThe Columbia River water levels are above normal, and predictions are for plenty of water f**or both irrigation and power.** The Columbia is the most important source of irrigation water in eastern Washington. It irrigates TEN TIMES the number of acres as the Yakima River.\n\n\n\n\nRiver levels in the state are all close to normal.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nPrecipitation over the State for the water year (October 1 to now)?\n\n\n\n\nAbove normal for most of the state, and MUCH above normal in the mountains (that is why all the reservoirs are so full!)\n\n\nSoil moisture? Above normal!\n\n\n\n\n\nCrop moisture? Above normal in much of the state, nowhere below normal.\n\n\n\n\nCurrent status of crops? They are in excellent shape with extremely high yields for winter wheat. Apples look good as well\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n**So with all this good water news, why is the Washington State Department of Ecology calling a drought emergency?**\n\n\n\n\nThey claim it is because the state snowpack is below normal: about half of average (see below). This snowpack normally melts in May and June, helping to top off the reservoirs and support streamflow during the early to mid-summer.\n\n\n\n\nDon't get me wrong. It would be better if the snowpack were normal. But there really is no water problem this summer with the current snowpack and **certainly no drought.**\n\n**First, 50% snowpack is not zero, and there will be substantial snowmelt water available during the next few months.**\n\n**Second, reservoir managers were very wise and used the above-normal precipitation of the past winter to fill all the reservoirs. Better weather prediction supports this, since they can fill the reservoirs, knowing they would have time to partially drain them if a major storm approaches.**\n\n**Third, and this is not advertised by the water fear mongers, Washington State gets much more precipitation (including snow water) than it needs, and much of the snowmelt moves down the rivers into the sea.**\n\n**Fourth, Washington State agriculture can do quite well with below normal precipitation. This is true of the Yakima basin farmers when they don't get their full allotment.**\n\n**What happened during the 2025 Drought Emergency?**\n\n****\n\n****\n\n**The Washington State Department of Ecology is undermining its credibility with these inflammatory and unscientific drought emergencies.**\n\nThey would be wise to read some classical literature, such as _The Boy Who Cried Wolf_ and _Chicken Little_(The Sky Is Falling). One loses credibility when exaggerating threats. Eventually, others don't take you seriously.\n\n\n\n\nThe Sky is Falling!\n\n\n",
  "title": "The Is No Drought Emergency in Washington State",
  "updatedAt": "2026-05-03T04:40:18.977Z"
}