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KITTITAS COUNTY <br />DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS <br />PUBLIC WORKS — BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS <br />STUDY SESSION STAFF REPORT <br />STUDY SESSION DATE: August 23, 2021 <br />TOPIC: 2021 Drought Outlook <br />ACTION REQUESTED: Direction to Staff <br />LEAD STAFF: <br />Mark R. Cook <br />RECOMMENDATION: <br />Begin planning for 2022 drought conditions. <br />BRIEFING SUMMARY: <br />• 2021 Drought conditions are worsening. <br />• Warmer than normal temperatures with below normal precipitation are expected <br />through November. <br />• Declining stream flows are anticipated to impact surface water availability for <br />irrigation by early fall 2021. <br />BACKGROUND: <br />National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) drought forecasts in June <br />were recently upgraded reflecting more serious persistent drought concerns. The June <br />analysis suggested drier than normal conditions through September. The revised forecast <br />now extends through November. The "Exceptional Drought" designation has been <br />expanded for Eastern Washington clipping the easterly most portion of Kittitas County <br />(EXHIBIT 1). <br />DISCUSSION: <br />It appears that the larger than normal snowfalls from winter 2020/2021 are adequately <br />offsetting the irrigation demands for Kittitas County this growing season. This is not the <br />case for much of Oregon. Current reservoir impacts in Oregon forebode potential future <br />conditions for Eastern Washington. Staff had a growing concern for surface water rights <br />that do not include access to Bureau of Reclamation water and for the potential for <br />prorationing of Bureau supplies in 2022. The ongoing "warmer than normal" coupled <br />with "less than normal precipitation" is driving river and creek levels downward from <br />normal years. While significant adverse impacts this irrigation season will likely be <br />avoided, staff believes it is prudent to begin planning for drought impact in the 2022 <br />irrigation season. <br />Staff proposes evaluating the 2019 water auction process and the policies surrounding <br />availability of the County's Water Bank during declared drought. The Vantage area fire <br />Page 1 of 3 <br />Public Works "Work Session Staff Report", 2021 <br />