Drought Conditions and Dungeness River Flow Report
Posted 7/28/2026. Post updated 7/30/2026.
Although it seems cool and damp here in Sequim and Clallam County, this area in in a drought and water supplies cannot be taken for granted. I am convinced that Clallam County is one of the most climate resilient counties in the United States. This county does not suffer from the extreme heat, severe droughts nor destructive flooding that other areas of the US are currently enduring. Living here makes it easy to ignore the effects of climate change or even to deny climate change entirely. Nevertheless, this area is subject to the effects of ongoing climate change. Due to low snow pack caused by higher temperatures in the mountain ranges this past winter, runoff levels are very low this year. The area is also in a moderate drought which is forecast to continue.
Snowpack
The Washington Department of Ecology issued a statewide drought alert on April 8, 2026. This drought is the result of a dismal snowpack over the winter.
Here is an image of the Washington state snowpack conditions reported in this report.
Drought
The Federal Drought Information System (FDIS) confirms the Washington State Department of Ecology report. The FDIS reports that Clallam County is currently in a moderate drought; this drought is expected to persist and that current local water supplies are low.
Dungeness River
The water flows in the Dungeness River appear to be at historically low levels. One has to be careful about interpreting the reported data, because of the variability of precipitation. (View the graph below.) The dark blue line is this year's water discharge rates. The brown line is last year's discharge rate. and the dotted blue line is the graph of 97 years of accumulated historic discharge data. The current levels are far below the historic average.
Reports in the News Media
Just recently, a couple of reports have appeared in the Peninsula Daily News. Local experts are reporting the on the low water flows in the Dungeness River and are warning about the causes and effects of this low water flow. The effects are going to be a shortage of water for local irrigators as well as imposing limits on how much water will be available for people moving into the area, and of course, how much water will available to support the local salmon runs each year. The bottom line: it's not an emergency yet, but there definitely will be less water to go around.
Furthermore, the runoff from the local Olympic Mountain Range supplies not only the surface water in the Dungeness River and local creeks, but this runoff also fuels an unseen downhill water flow in the local aquifers, providing water for the many municipal and private wells in the area. The effects of this decreasing water supply on these local aquifers is not well understood yet. It seems prudent to gather data in these local aquifers, including well level trends and take appropriate action to assure a long term supply.
Dungenessflow.org
There is a local organization that is dedicated to keeping the public informed about the flow of the Dungeness River. This organization is the Dungenessflow.org website. https://dungenessflow.org/ You can go here and download a mobile app that allows you to check on the latest Dungeness River flow for yourself.
Washington's Water Future
The Washington Department of Ecology is taking action to protect our water future. You can get directly involved. At the site provided below, you can access more information about our water future. Have a look at their Overview Presentation. You too, can provide your input on Washington's Water Future initiative by taking the survey. And you too, are invited to attend an upcoming input session webinar on August 4, 2026.
Protect the Peninsula's Future
There is a local organization dedicated to Protecting the Peninsula's Future. They have six causes and among them is the issue of protecting water.
Public Comment
The following is a public comment submitted to Jennifer Hennessy, the Special Assistant to the Director, Department of Ecology by a local citizen, Tony Corrado.
Public Comment: Reevaluating Water Sustainability and Climate Strategy in the Dungeness Basin
To: Jennifer Hennessey, Special Assistant to the Director, Department of Ecology
Dear Jennifer,
I am submitting these comments in response to the Department of Ecology’s request for feedback regarding Washington State’s long-term water sustainability amidst ongoing drought.
I want to commend the Ecology staff for their recent presentation to the Dungeness River Management Team (DRMT). Their presentation on drought response was exceptional and thoroughly professional. While my insights center primarily on the Dungeness Basin, I recognize that your department must balance these local dynamics with broader statewide policy. My comments are strictly personal. I urge the Department of Ecology to consider the following points:
1. Retire the Term "New Normal"
Framing current climate impacts as a "new normal" creates a false narrative of stability—implying that we have simply transitioned from one predictable climate state to another. Historical patterns can no longer serve as a baseline for future projections. Rather than a settled state, our climate reality is an ongoing, volatile cycle of intensifying weather extremes, severe droughts, and unexpected flooding.
2. Recognize Exponential Climate Acceleration
We have passed the point of gradual change and entered a critical phase where climate impacts are compounding exponentially. Disruptions across all fronts—including extreme temperatures, severe drought, flooding, shifting agricultural seasons, and food supply strain—will continue to worsen year after year.
3. Shift from Standard Operations to Crisis Management
Government bodies at all levels—federal, state, county, and local—are fundamentally unequipped for the velocity of this crisis. Bureaucratic constraints, inadequate staffing, financial limitations, and regulatory hurdles prevent agencies from acting with the required urgency. We cannot treat this as business as usual; it demands emergency protocol.
● Local Case in Point: Clallam County’s Off-channel Reservoir project has dragged on for over 11 years without moving a single yard of dirt, and its location remains unsettled. Worse, the current design is already recognized as insufficient even for basic river recharge needs to protect local salmon runs.
4. Bridge the Public Knowledge Gap on Groundwater Connectivity
There is a dangerous disconnect in how the public and managing agencies view surface water versus groundwater. People often assume these systems operate independently. Consequently, declining snowpacks and winter ice are viewed merely as surface water issues. Public outreach must clearly articulate that direct precipitation is becoming the primary source for both surface and groundwater systems.
5. Overhaul Modern Water Rights
The legacy doctrine of "first in time, first in right" is no longer functional under modern climate realities. Legislative action is necessary to reallocate water rights so that essential needs—such as residential supply, agriculture, livestock, wildlife, and fish habitats—are equitably protected. We must establish a new framework that mandates conservation across all sectors.
Time is running out, and immediate, systemic action is required.
Sincerely,
Anthony Corrado
Sequim Resident