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CHAPTER 9. DROUGHT <br />9-8 <br />Table 9-1. Kittitas County Vulnerability to Drought <br />Criterion Value for <br />Kittitas County <br />Meets Drought <br />Vulnerability <br />Criterion? <br />Percent of Time in Serious or Extreme Drought, 1895 – 1995 10 – 15 Yes <br />Irrigated Cropland (acres) 91,944 <br />Statewide Ranking for Irrigated Cropland Area 7 Yes <br />Percent of Harvested Cropland That Is Irrigated 137.8% <br />Statewide Ranking for Irrigated Cropland Percentage 1 Yes <br />Market Value of Crops $38,432,000 <br />Statewide Ranking for Market Value of Crops 18 Yes <br />Population Growth, 2000 – 2006 12.1% Yes <br />Median Household Income $34,669 Yes <br />Unemployment Rate 20% Greater Than State Average No No <br /> <br />9.6.1 Population <br />The planning partnership has the ability to minimize any impacts on residents and water consumers in the <br />county should several consecutive dry years occur. No significant life or health impacts are anticipated as <br />a result of drought within the planning area. <br />9.6.2 Property <br />No structures will be directly affected by drought conditions, though some structures may become <br />vulnerable to wildfires, which are more likely following years of drought. Droughts can also have <br />significant impacts on landscapes, which could cause a financial burden to property owners. However, these <br />impacts are not considered critical in planning for impacts from the drought hazard. <br />9.6.3 Critical Facilities <br />Critical facilities as defined for this plan will continue to be operational during a drought. Critical facility <br />elements such as landscaping may not be maintained due to limited resources, but the risk to the planning <br />area’s critical facilities inventory will be largely aesthetic. For example, when water conservation measures <br />are in place, landscaped areas will not be watered and may die. These aesthetic impacts are not considered <br />significant. <br />9.6.4 Environment <br />Environmental losses from drought are associated with damage to plants, animals, wildlife habitat, and air <br />and water quality; forest and range fires; degradation of landscape quality; loss of biodiversity; and soil