The 2021 Pacific Northwest Water Year Impacts Assessment summarizes the water year conditions and related impacts experienced by farmers, water managers, fisheries managers, and other natural resource managers.

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This assessment describes the climate of the water year and related impacts. For several years, researchers, water and resource managers, and organizations working to integrate research and resource management in Oregon and Washington have held a joint Water Year Recap and Outlook meeting. A separate but similar meeting in Idaho is also held each year. In addition to these annual water year meetings, an Annual Pacific Northwest Water Year Impacts Survey is used to collect information on water year impacts for multiple sectors. Impacts are summarized in this assessment  primarily based on information from the meeting discussions, the survey, and author expertise. Drought and, to a lesser extent, the June 2021 heat wave and its impacts are the focus of this report.

The lead author, Karin Bumbaco, is from the UW Office of the Washington State Climatologist.Two authors of the report – Crystal Raymond and Matthew Rogers – are scientists at the UW Climate Impacts Group. The Oregon State Climatologist, and Idaho Department of Water Resources also developed the report with support from National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS) and state and regional partners.

Overall, the 2021 water year was warmer and drier than normal for the Pacific Northwest. As a whole, the 2021 water year tied 2016 as the fifth warmest and tied 1915 as the 17th driest (83% of normal precipitation) on record (since 1895; NOAA NCEI).

Agriculture, forestry, drinking water, fisheries, and recreation sectors were affected by the abnormally dry conditions. Impacts included less surface water available for agriculture and fishes, water rights restrictions, reduced crop yields, plant stress, tree mortality, and voluntary water restrictions. Impacts were particularly widespread in central and southern Oregon, eastern Washington, and several river basins in Idaho. The assessment details the impacts and responses to these impacts.

Please contact Karin Bumbao (kbumbaco@uw.edu) or Crystal Raymond (clrfire@uw.edu) if you have any questions on this assessment or comments for future assessments.