Other heavy water users, such as landscapers, are also negatively impacted. Water related activities of residential users may be restricted. And because much of the county s power comes from hydroelectric plants, droughts often cause both water and power shortages. Therefore, heavy power users are also affected. Fifteen significant droughts affecting the Puget Sound lowlands since 1900 have been documented.
Drought conditions have differing impacts on the community during different times of the year.
A drought during the winter that limits snow pack might have a more severe impact on the community than one in the late summer when reservoirs can be used to mitigate problems. There are also certain times during a growing season when crops are better able to cope with drought conditions than others. Therefore, crop yields can vary greatly depending on when in the growing season the drought occurs. It is often difficult to recognize a drought before being in the middle of it. Droughts do not occur spontaneously, they evolve over time as certain conditions are met.