September to December 2026 Edition
Panel 2: Evolving Drought Perspectives After Four Consecutive Drought Years
By Hannah McDonough | Washington Water Trust and Kensey Daly | Jacobs Engineering
Panelists: Caroline Mellor (moderator, Ecology), Will Stelle (Washington Water Trust), Matt Baerwalde (Snoqualmie Tribe), Ben Smith (Dungeness River Agricultural Water Users), Elizabeth Garcia (Seattle Public Utilities)
Drought Panel including (from left to right both photos) Caroline Mellor, Elizabeth Garcia, Ben Smith,
Matt Baerwalde, and Will Stelle. Photo credit: Tom Ring
The panel explored how four consecutive drought years have reshaped water management perspectives across Washington, with each panelist reflecting on what prolonged scarcity has meant for their communities, watersheds, and operations. Notes from the discussion highlighted a shared recognition that declining snowpack is no longer an anomaly but an emerging norm, requiring new “drought muscles” and a shift toward practices that assume earlier runoff, hotter summers, and more frequent water shortages. Panelists described the growing need to hold onto every drop, including exploring reservoir operations that can retain more late‑season water, advancing groundwater storage, and accelerating conservation measures. Several referenced the widening gap between historic hydrologic patterns and current realities, noting that many systems were built for a climate that no longer exists.
Panelists also emphasized the importance of collaboration, contingency planning, and flexible tools that allow communities to adapt quickly. From county‑level drought coordination teams to tribal watershed assessments, the discussion underscored how partnerships have become essential for navigating compounding challenges like wildfire, heat, and low flows. Panelists stressed that drought impacts are not evenly distributed, and that frontline communities including farmers, tribal nations, and rural water users need support to build resilience. The conversation closed with a shared acknowledgement that Washington’s water future will require both structural investments and cultural shifts toward cooperation, transparency, and long‑term planning.
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