No Drought Emergency Pt 1
From the Ag Information Network, this is today’s Fruit Grower Report. According to state officials and some recent news reports, the state of Washington is now facing another “drought emergency,” for the third year in a row.
But University of Washington professor of Atmospheric and Climate Science, Cliff Mass disagrees …
MASS … “That’s based upon the Department of Ecology’s declaration, and I don’t think there’s an emergency here. I mean, it’s not even close to being an emergency and, in fact, the situation is substantially more favorable than last year. And last year there was not severe agricultural implications.”
And the snowpack, Mass says is fine at this point …
MASS … “That is not an emergency, I mean, that there is a snowpack. It’s normal or above normal in the southern part of the state and it’s a little below normal up in the northern part of the state but it’s not that serious.”
Meanwhile, Mass says the reservoirs look good too …
MASS … “The reservoirs are either in good shape or getting there. On the west side, the reservoirs are all full. And on the east side, the Yakima, which was below normal, is rapidly increasing and it will be equal to last year this coming week, and it will get above last year’s.”
So, Mass says there is NO EMERGENCY …
MASS … “It’s way off. I mean, you look up the word “emergency,” that’s an unexpected, severe event. And this is not like that. It’s not a severe event and nothing is unexpected. We’re better off than last year.”
Listen tomorrow for more on our so-called “drought emergency.”
Or go to www.cliffmass.blogspot.com to learn more.
