Closer To a Drought Plan?

April 23, 2025
Closer To a Drought Plan?
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Today, the Washington County Water Conservancy District’s (WCWCD’s) Administrative Advisory Committee (AAC) voted to recommend adoption of a long-overdue Water Shortage Contingency Plan. (Download draft plan) (Download presentation explaining the plan)

This is a big step toward preparing our region for droughts, disasters, and supply shortfalls. It’s a shame though that it isn’t already adopted and that it took three and a half years to get to this point. (See my “Parched Today…” article for more background.)

But it’s progress of sorts. So that’s the good news. The not-so-good? Nearly every committee member also wanted changes to the plan. And the way WCWCD works, they all must agree. Only our mayor firmly backed the plan as-is and voiced what many of us have felt for years: it’s baffling we didn’t do this sooner.

The plan itself is solid. It introduces clear drought stages, outlines practical response actions, and builds on years of investment in conservation. It includes long-overdue measures, like phasing out ornamental lawns, limiting new water-intensive development, and tightening restrictions as drought conditions worsen.

But the cracks are still showing. There’s still little agreement on the details, the actual water-reducing steps we need to take in each drought stage, and more. Meanwhile, 2024–25 is already the driest water year on record.

We’re not just kicking the can down the road, we’re risking doing it on a dusty, cracked riverbed. This isn’t water policy; it’s high-stakes roulette with our future supply.

WCWCDs Board of Trustees will now decide whether to adopt the plan, likely with revisions. Let’s hope they move quickly, plug the gaps, and show the urgency the moment demands. Hope is not a water management strategy.  Their next meeting is on May 5th at 6:00 p.m. at the district’s office, 533 E Waterworks Drive. These meetings are open to the public.

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