02/17/06 Streamflow forecast/Senate budget & ag

02/17/06 Streamflow forecast/Senate budget & ag

Washington Ag February 17, 2006 Sizable snowfalls in December and January boosted Washington's snow pack levels. And Scott Pattee, water supply specialist with the Natural Resources Conservation Service, says that should mean good stream flows later this year. Pattee: "At this point a very good forecast for stream flows, anywhere from near to certainly above average for stream flows projected for spring and summer." Pattee says the snow pack in the Yakima Basin, which suffered severe irrigation water shortages last year, has a snow pack of 130 percent of average. Pattee: "Which then equates at this point to stream flow forecasts that range anywhere from 108% to 125% of average." Pattee says February snow accumulation rates have tapered off but cooler temperatures are helping to maintain snow pack levels. Governor Chris Gregoire yesterday afternoon signed that Columbia River water management legislation. The law aims to create new storage and water, two-thirds of which would be used by agriculture and municipalities in eastern Washington. Senate Democrats included the funding authority for the management plan in their supplemental budget unveiled earlier this week. That budget proposal by the way also includes a funding mechanism for Washington State University's Life Sciences building at Pullman as well as elimination of the state sales tax on farm diesel and aviation fuel used by aerial applicators. I'm Bob Hoff.
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