Register Today for Water Year 2024 Recap & 2025 Outlook Meeting

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The 19th annual Oregon-Washington Water Year Meeting: 2024 Recap and 2025 Outlook will be held as two virtual morning meetings. There is no cost to attend but you are required to register. 

The goal of this meeting is to share and gather information regarding climate impacts of the 2024 water year. The warmer than normal winter, lack of Washington snowpack and subsequent drought development, the changing drought conditions in Oregon, and the hot July will be topics of discussion. This meeting will also offer the opportunity to learn from others about mitigation actions that were taken through group discussion. Forecast experts will provide expectations for 2025, including discussion of what the switch to La Niña in the tropical Pacific means for the region. 

An end-of-water year survey is available for participants (and others) to record impacts and actions taken to minimize those impacts, which will also be discussed during the workshop. Both the survey and the workshop will help inform an annual PNW Water Year Impacts Assessment.

We encourage participation from a wide range of sectors including utilities, agriculture, and forestry. A detailed agenda will be available soon. 

This event is hosted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS), the University of Washington Climate Impacts Group, and the Office of the Washington State Climatologist with planning committee participation from the Nez Perce Tribe Water Resources Division, Oregon State University’s Oregon Climate Service, the Oregon Water Resources Department, the USDA Northwest Climate Hub, and the Washington Department of Ecology.

Schedule

Day 1: Tuesday, October 29, 2024 9 am-12:15 pm

Day 1 will feature a recap of the weather and seasonal climate of water year 2024, an introduction to impacts reported during the water year, and group discussion of sector-specific impacts. 

Day 2: Wednesday, October 30, 2024 9 am-12:15 pm

Day 2 will feature stories of sector-specific 2024 water year impacts, and the 2024-25 winter outlook, including what La Niña means for the upcoming winter.

REGISTER

AGENDA

Take our Survey and Help Inform the Water Year Meeting and Impacts Assessment!

Water year 2024 is now in the books, and total precipitation varied across the region. How was the Northwest (WA, OR, or ID) impacted? The goal of this survey is to gather information about impacts that occurred and response actions that were implemented during the 2023 water year (October 1, 2022 – September 30, 2023) due to abnormally dry or abnormally wet conditions. This information will inform the Oregon/Washington Water Year meeting and PNW Water Year Impacts Assessment.

We welcome reports of impacts from those working in the water, agriculture, forestry, fisheries, hydropower, and recreation sectors, as well as tribal, local, state, and federal agency staff that work with these sectors.

SURVEY

 

How the drought hit WA’s farms, forests, fisheries and drinking water 

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Virtually every aspect of life in Washington suffered during last year’s drought. Groundwater wells ran dry, fields produced fewer crops, trees died in greater numbers, fish faced disease and famine, according to a study from the University of Washington’s Climate Impacts Group and the Office of the Washington State Climatologist. Karin Bumbaco, interim state climatologist, is quoted. The 2023 PNW Water Year Assessment is referenced.

New report shows how drought impacted WA, helps agencies plan for future 

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Researchers released their 2023 “Pacific Northwest Water Year Impacts Assessment” this month, examining how Washington, Oregon and Idaho were impacted by precipitation and temperatures. Karin Bumbaco is quoted. The Climate Impacts Group and the Office of the Washington State Climatologist are mentioned.

Climate Impacts Group, partners release fourth PNW Water Year Assessment

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As drought persists across parts of Washington and the Pacific Northwest, a team of scientists have developed an annual assessment to help water managers and agricultural producers prepare for dry conditions and other weather extremes.

The fourth Pacific Northwest Water Year Impacts Assessment, released today, summarizes variations in temperature, precipitation and snowpack across Oregon, Washington and Idaho in 2023. Additionally, it details the impacts of these variations on key sectors such as agriculture and drinking water, and how sectors responded to these impacts. For the first time, a summary of the assessment is also available in Spanish.

The assessment is one product of a collaborative process between water managers and scientists at the Office of the Washington State Climatologist, the Climate Impacts Group, Oregon Climate Service, Idaho Department of Water Resources and NOAA’s National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS). The collaborative process helps inform and refine future drought management by connecting seasonal conditions to sector-specific impacts and response actions.

“For water managers looking for ways to adapt to seasonal variations in the climate, examples of how other water managers across the Pacific Northwest are responding to similar challenges can be informative and motivating,” Climate Impacts Group scientist Crystal Raymond says. “By documenting how seasonal climate conditions translate into impacts to our drinking water, agriculture, fisheries and ecosystems each year, people have more information to anticipate future impacts and inform efforts to prepare for drought and other climate extremes in order to minimize impacts to people and the economy.”

The recently-released assessment covers the impacts of worsening drought during the last water year (October 1, 2022-September 30, 2023) and the rapid snowmelt and heatwave in May 2023. These impacts included reduced water availability and associated voluntary water conservation measures, fisheries closures and reduced hydropower generation. According to the assessment, the majority of survey respondents in agriculture and drinking water reported that they changed their operations in response to the drought. As an example, water managers reported changing their messaging and recommendations regarding water conservation, others needed to use backup or alternative water sources, and agriculture producers altered the timing of irrigation.

The 2023 impacts assessment is well-timed to help inform preparations for the upcoming spring and summer. As of March 13, the statewide average snowpack is 76 percent of normal. The current snowpack is considerably lower than it was last year at this time. Last year, statewide average snowpack was exactly normal (100%). As a result, regions across the state are preparing for new or worsening drought.

“The low snowpack, particularly in the Olympics and the Northern Cascades, is quite concerning considering we’re so close to the end of our snow accumulation season,” said Karin Bumbaco, Interim State Climatologist with the Office of the Washington State Climatologist. “But what we’ve learned from putting together these impacts assessments for the last four water years, is that there is quite a bit of planning and adjusting that can be done to avoid the worst outcomes.”

The weather this spring, forecasted to continue to be warmer and drier than normal, will in part determine if the official drought declaration in Washington will be lengthened or extended to additional regions. An official drought declaration is triggered when water supply is below 75% of normal, and there are hardships resulting from the current droughts’ impact on water supply in a geographic area. Changes in the drought declaration means grant funding would become available to federally recognized Tribes and public entities in additional areas to reduce hardship faced from current drought conditions.

Washington’s Department of Ecology plays a critical role in monitoring conditions and updating drought declarations. Caroline Mellor, statewide drought lead at the Department of Ecology, says  “We are continuing to encourage water users to plan for a drier than normal year. While our water year-to-date numbers may look promising, our state’s water availability is still impacted by the snowpack drought in some watersheds, especially those with a deeper deficit from last year’s drought conditions.” Mellor added that the next few weeks will be important for drought conditions as we move into spring.

Ecology is soliciting feedback on what people are most concerned about this year’s drought. You can take their brief survey on their website.

In the fall, the Climate Impacts Group will provide more opportunities for water managers, agricultural producers and others to provide their insights into how drought and seasonal climate conditions impacted them. Their annual water year survey is typically distributed in early October, and the water year meeting is held in November.

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.

Read the assessment

Register Today for the Water Year 2023 Recap & 2024 Outlook Meeting

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The 18th annual Oregon-Washington Water Year Meeting: 2023 Recap and 2024 Outlook will be held as two virtual morning meetings on Wednesday, November 1 and Thursday, November 2. There is no cost to attend but you are required to register. 

The goal of this meeting is to share and gather information regarding climate impacts of the 2023 water year. The extended summer of 2022 into fall, drought development across Washington and northwest Oregon, drought improvement over southeastern Oregon, and rapid spring snowmelt will be topics of discussion. This meeting will also offer the opportunity to learn from others about mitigation actions that were taken through group discussion. Forecast experts will provide expectations for 2024, including discussion of what El Niño means for the region. 

Day 1 will feature a recap of the weather and seasonal climate of water year 2023, group discussion of sector-specific impacts, and stories from the agriculture, fishery, and water sectors.

Day 2 will feature the 2023-24 winter outlook, including what El Niño means for the upcoming winter, and introduce a new tool to assess drought recovery. There will also be two more in-depth retrospectives on winter 2022-23 in regards to the precipitation pattern and streamflow forecasts.

An end-of-water year survey is now available for participants to record impacts and actions taken to minimize those impacts, which will also be discussed during the workshop. Both the survey and the workshop will help inform an annual PNW Water Year Impacts Assessment. See below for more details.

This event is hosted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS), the University of Washington Climate Impacts Group, and the Office of the Washington State Climatologist with planning committee participation from the Nez Perce Tribe Water Resources Division, Oregon State University’s Oregon Climate Service, the WA Department of Fish and Wildlife, and USDA Northwest Climate Hub. We encourage participation from a wide range of sectors including utilities, agriculture, and forestry. 

Event Details: 

Wednesday, November 1, 2023, 9 am-12:15 pm

Thursday, November 2, 2023, 9 am-12:15 pm

Virtual

AGENDA      REGISTER

Take our Survey and Help Inform the Water Year Meeting and Impacts Assessment!

Water year 2023 is now in the books, and will likely be remembered as a dry year overall. How was the Northwest (WA, OR, or ID) impacted? The goal of this survey is to gather information about impacts that occurred and response actions that were implemented during the 2023 water year (October 1, 2022 – September 30, 2023) due to abnormally dry or abnormally wet conditions. This information will inform the Oregon/Washington Water Year meeting and PNW Water Year Impacts Assessment.

We welcome reports of impacts from those working in the water, agriculture, forestry, fisheries, hydropower, and recreation sectors, as well as tribal, local, state, and federal agency staff that work with these sectors.

WATER YEAR SURVEY

Drought planning forum explores risks, solutions for Methow Valley

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The forum brought together water experts from the valley, the state, and federal agencies in early March. They explained hydrogeology and water storage, and outlined steps to preserve water for rivers and fish, residential and business use, and for agriculture. Research from the UW Climate Impacts Group is referenced.

Register Today: Ore.-Wash. Water Year 2022 Recap & 2023 Outlook Meeting

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REGISTRATION AGENDA WATER YEAR SURVEY

Registration is now open for the Oregon-Washington Water Year 2022 Recap & 2023 Outlook Meeting! Participants will meet virtually on the mornings of October 25 and 26. This annual water year meeting, now in its 17th year, is an opportunity to review climate-related impacts of the previous water year and learn about the forecast for the upcoming water year. There is no cost to attend but you are required to register.

The goal of this meeting is to share and gather information regarding climate impacts of the 2022 water year. Continuing drought in some areas, flooding in the fall of 2021, and the exceptionally wet spring will be the focus. This meeting will also offer the opportunity to learn from others about impacts and response actions that were taken. Both days will include time for discussion and peer-to-peer learning, in addition to hearing from forecast experts on what to expect for 2023. A draft agenda is now available. 

We encourage participation from a wide range of sectors including water suppliers, energy, agriculture, recreation, and forestry.

We invite participants (and anyone working in these sectors) to respond to the annual water year survey in advance of the water year meeting. You will be asked to reflect on the impacts of abnormally dry or wet conditions, and actions taken to minimize those impacts. The survey results will be discussed during the workshop. Both the survey and the workshop will help inform an annual PNW Water Year Impacts Assessment. 

This event is hosted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS), the University of Washington Climate Impacts Group, and the Office of the Washington State Climatologist with planning committee participation from the Nez Perce Tribe Water Resources Division, Oregon State University’s Oregon Climate Service, the WA Department of Ecology, and USDA Northwest Climate Hub.

Members of the media who are planning to attend the water year meeting or have questions should contact Tess Wrobleski, Climate Impacts Group communications manager, at tessw2@uw.edu.

REGISTER TODAY!

AP News: From dry to deluge, how heavy snow, rain flooded Yellowstone

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In Yellowstone, rivers and creeks this week raged with water much higher and faster than even the rare benchmark 500 year flood. Weather-whiplashed residents and government officials raced to save homes, roads and businesses. Guillaume Mauger is quoted. This article was picked up by five different news outlets.