20 Washington State Rivers At Record Low Flow Levels

[hatrack]

"Despite the drizzle, the beginning of spring 2005 will go down in history as one of the driest in Washington history.

Just one measure: The East Fork of the Lewis River at Heisson Bridge flowed at the lowest level for a March 21 in the 74 years records have been kept, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. On Monday, 20 other Washington rivers were flowing at record low levels for the date, and the Columbia Basin snowpack was at 59 percent of average, with many basins already snow-free.

Already, the state Department of Ecology is issuing water conservation tips don't let the water run while you're shaving or brushing your teeth, for example more typical for August.

Ecology officials are offering to buy water rights from irrigators in the Yakima River basin so others facing cutoffs this year will still have enough water to flush their toilets. The past few days of cool, wet weather haven't changed the fact that the state remains parched by drought, said state climatologist Philip Mote. "We would need a half-inch of rain every few days from now to the end of May to pull us out of the current water-deficit hole," Mote said. "Even the wettest spring ever would not bail us out of drought."

EDIT

http://www.columbian.com/03232005/front_pa/257526.cfm

[zbdent]

1. It's the "SuperFlush"

effect - from the halftime show of the SuperBowl. Never recovered.

[phantom power]

2. We could cover them in plastic cling-wrap.