And its only the second day of spring

[Amelia]

Monday, March 21, 2005

GOVERNOR MULLING DROUGHT DECLARATION ... MONDAY 4:30 P.M.

By MICHAEL MILSTEIN

The Oregonian

[]http://www.clubadventist.com/ubbthreads/attachments/163002-GovernmentCamp_pid102.jpg[/]

[:"blue"]This picture is of the pass over mt hood and the road to two of the states largest skiing areas. We should still have to plow and use chains in this area. As you can see, its bare as a bone. So is the mt.

Gov. Ted Kulongoski asked the public to join state agencies in getting ready for what is turning into one of the driest years on record, with some farmers already seeing their irrigation shut off and severe wildfires looming.

He said at a Monday press conference that he will decide next week whether to issue a statewide drought declaration. That would authorize the state to limit use of water and impose conservation measures.

And he warned that the federal government must be willing to supply extra firefighting funds and equipment to stand in during fire season for National Guard forces assigned to Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere.

"The states are contributing enormously to the conflicts around the world," Kulongoski said. "The federal government and the president have a responsibility to not make states pay more twice."

The governor outlined steps to help confront a drought that has dropped many rivers to trickles and threatens to leave many reservoirs less than half full:

-- The Oregon Department of Forestry will enact an annual Fire Severity Plan that includes contracts for extra firefighting aircraft and crews by April 1, a month ahead than usual.

-- The Oregon National Guard will assess the impact of overseas troop deployments on the ranks of soldiers and aircraft available to fight summer wildfires. Kulongoski will use the results to seek federal assistance.

-- Kulongoski on Monday called on forest homeowners to remove built-up brush and take other actions to safeguard their houses from expected wildfires. He also signed an executive order directing the state to promote reuse of water, such as irrigating golf courses with treated city wastewater rather than water from streams or wells.

-- The governor's Web site will include a new section providing weekly updates on drought and fire conditions around the state.

-- Oregon's Drought Council will advise him next week on whether to declare a statewide drought, and how best to position the state "to tap every available resource from the federal state and local levels so that we are doing everything we can to meet the water needs of our communities."

[Bravus]

We could probably send you some:

0:22 AM MST Tuesday 22 March 2005

Heavy snowfall warning for

city of Edmonton-St Albert-Sherwood Park continued

Snow continues to accumulate over central Alberta.

An upper level disturbance continues to produce an area of snow Over central Alberta. About 10 to 15 centimetres has already fallen with another 5 to 10 possible by this evening. The snow will taper off this evening as the system weakens.