Water supply monitoring

Data indicates that we are in a snowpack drought for several areas of the state.

We encourage water users to plan for a drier than normal year. While our Water Year to Date numbers may look promising, availability is still impacted by the snowpack drought in some watersheds.

While worrisome, the potential magnitude of drought conditions is far less than it was 2015. The 2015 drought is often referred to as the drought of record for Washington. On this date in 2015, statewide snowpack was 26% of normal and the Olympic Mountains were at 5%.

Please go to Statewide Conditions page for an in-depth description of this summary and the data used to come to these forecasts.

An overhead view of Rich Passage, a tidal strait in the Puget Sound, allowing access to Bremerton, Washington.

We rely on a variety of data sources to evaluate the state's current and future water supply.

Explore some of these sources here.

Rivers and streams are an important part of the state's water supply. These online tools track flow levels:

An all green graphic of a stream flowing in between trees, two on the right and one tree on the left of the stream.

Freshwater DataStream – current and historical continuous data for rivers and streams
- Instream Flow Data – includes USGS gage (control points) identified in rule

U.S. Geological Survey – Look at daily streamflow data for Washington state
Northwest River Forecast Center – View river volume forecasts for the coming year

A graphic of a black mountain with two snow covered peaks.

Mountain snow acts like a water supply reservoir as it slowly melts during spring and summer. Find analysis tools, visual information and resources below:

Natural Resources Conservation Services (NRCS)
- Predefined maps - links to snowpack maps and data
- Current Snow Water Equivalent (SWE) % of Normal - Basin summary snowpack map
- Washington Snowpack Summary - Maps and Graphs
- Washington SNOTEL - Map of Current Snow Water Equivalent (SWE) % of Normal
National Weather Service
- Regional Snow Analysis

Rain, lowland snow, and other precipitation are important contributors to water supply. Find maps and measurements of this precipitation below:

A blue rain cloud graphic image with four rain lines falling below

Natural Resources Conservation Services (NRCS)
- Predefined maps - links to precipitation maps and data
Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network - Citizens provide these weather measurements

Groundwater — water held in aquifers — is critical to the water cycle. Find the assessments of aquifers here:

All red graphic image of water creeping up a shoreline near a house structure

USGS: Washington Active Water Level Network
Ecology: Statewide 2017 Groundwater Assessment:
Ecology: Groundwater Quality Assessment

Short and long-range climate forecasts allow us to better understand potential impacts to the state's water supply.

National Weather Service - The Climate Prediction Center develops short-term and seasonal outlooks
Western Regional Climate Center - See recent climate anomaly maps and tables
U.S. Climate Resilience Toolkit - This dashboard pulls together several forecasts and outlooks, and also includes current and historical observations

Contact information

Heather Clements
Web Coordinator
heather.clements@ecy.wa.gov
564-233-9182

Water supply monitoring

Related links

Contact information