07/18/07 How Much Water?

How much water? I'm Greg Martin with today's Fruit Grower Report. Boy it has been hot and of course when it's hot, a lot of water gets used. A big concern for some areas of the northwest is exactly how much water we do have. Idaho ag producers are really hurting but how about Washington State? Joye Redfield-Wilder, Public Information Manager for Washington's Department of Ecology says it looks good. REDFIELD-WILDER: Well things are looking really good in the Yakima Basin and elsewhere however, this hot weather could result in some restrictions up in the Methow or Wenatchee or Okanagan area where there are some water rights holders that can be interrupted. Last weeks weather was quite warm with some record setting days. The extended forecast does call for continued warm weather as well. REDFIELD-WILDER: Overall we are not looking at a drought year. The Columbia Basin looks good but it's always a goof thing to conserve water and be diligent that way. Saving water is always a good thing since you never really know what Mother Nature has in store. REDFIELD-WILDER: Later in the season we might see some shortages but right now the forecast is looking good and the other thing the heat does is create more snow melt if there is any snow left it's going to melt faster and that'll mean we'll have more in the water and where there is storage we can save up that water and where there isn't storage there could be some shortfalls later. That's today's Fruit Grower Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Northwest Ag Information Network.