In the past two decades, the Pacific Northwest has experienced a detrimental shift in climate, posing challenges for local flora. Its caretakers are forced to grapple with the effects as the issue continues to escalate.
Washington state has seen record temperatures recently, heavily impacting local communities. Summer 2023 marked the second-longest warm temperature record in history for SeaTac, with 68 consecutive days where the temperature clocked in at over 70 degrees Fahrenheit. The hottest temperature ever recorded in the state occurred just over two years ago on June 29, 2021, scorching the small, central Washington agricultural community of Hanford at 120 degrees.
In a region renowned for its rainfall and temperate rainforest climate, the persistence of higher-than-average temperatures and dry spells have continued to adversely affect native plants and modify sustainable growing practices.
Ladd Smith is the co-founder of Seattle-based In Harmony Sustainable Landscapes, which specializes in environmentally responsible backyard terrain. He has noticed the effects decreased precipitation has had on the region. While Smith has heard of a possible upcoming drought this year, he doesn’t consider this occurrence to be a passing dry spell — he sees it as “the new standard.”
“Drought is a term used for short-term water situations that are out of the norm. But this is becoming normal for us,” Smith said. “We can’t say these are drought conditions because these are now our environmental conditions.”
Smith believes these dry environmental conditions are being exacerbated by homeowners’ tendency to trim tall trees in populated areas like cities and suburban neighborhoods where shorter trees are favored for better views or more space for buildings. However, this excessive pruning is extraordinarily harmful to the water cycle that keeps soil cool. Smaller tree canopies mean less shade for soil, exposing the ground to more sunlight and accelerating groundwater’s evaporation process, leaving less and less water for plant roots to absorb.
As a result of drier soils, plants that once flourished naturally and sustainably in the Pacific Northwest are becoming increasingly difficult to manage. Rhododendrons and azaleas, with shallow root systems more prone to experiencing water stress situations, are among the list of plants Smith has found to be struggling to adapt to this drier, sunnier climate. Crops with similar root systems — like onions, broccoli, lettuce and kale — may soon face growing difficulties as a result of warmer weather, reducing harvest production and affecting what’s available in local supermarkets. Smith says now is the time for innovation.
“People have to rethink where they’re putting those plants, because the way we had them before is not working anymore,” Smith said.
In addition to warmer temperatures and less consistent rainfall, both Smith and Eli Wheat, a professor in the College of the Environment at the University of Washington and owner of organic and regenerative SkyRoot Farm, agree that the incidence and severity of storms hitting the Pacific Northwest have escalated. Although the area has always seen strong storms, Wheat says they’re coming with more frequency, bringing their own challenges.
“One of the things that’s hard is you have to plan for unpredictability. And the unpredictability has increased,” Wheat said.
With this uncertainy comes growers who may not be ready to handle extreme weather, possibly leading to damaged crops. This loss can directly affect harvest output and quantity, translating to increased produce prices for the average consumer.
Furthermore, dry conditions brought on by climate change drive disasters like wildfires, which can impact agricultural production on the West Coast. Wildfires often emit noxious air that Wheat says has affected his farm, as well as others he knows. Additionally, this smoke oftentimes rolls in during the harvest season when crops are prime for picking.
“If you take the work of what it is to be someone in the fields doing harvesting or planting, and then magnify the difficulty of that work by also making the air toxic in these incredible high heat days … it’s a grueling combination,” Wheat said.
For farms of all sizes that are used to thriving in the relatively temperate, rainy Pacific Northwest conditions, wildfires pose an issue to crop output. Ash and smoke particles can choke out the light plants use for photosynthesis and dehydrate plants by blocking the leaf pores used to retain water. This disruption can be disastrous to local ecosystems where native plants’ livelihood depends on a specific region’s steady climate.
“We don’t need plants to survive; we need plants to thrive,” Smith said.
While the future of the Pacific Northwest’s flora might seem unknown, it’s not without hope, as Wheat believes that the shift to a milder temperature in the winter can actually be an asset to farmers and gardeners.
“The date of the first and last frost has shifted significantly in the last 20 years here in the Pacific Northwest. Which means we can plant vegetables sooner and have less likelihood of them dying earlier in the season from frost,” Wheat said.
The shifting frost patterns in the region not only benefit growers but also highlight the importance of growing sustainably, according to Wheat. He believes adapting to changing climate patterns and working to implement eco-friendly practices is vital to mitigate the effects of climate change.
As daunting as combating climate change might seem, Wheat reassured being an ally to the environment can begin on any scale; even average homeowners and amateur gardeners can make strides in sustainability. He encourages urban farmers to purchase seeds from local growers and think critically about practices they contribute to and interact with. Smith says that relying on the natural growth pattern of plants is vital to a healthy ecosystem.
“It’s really about letting the plants grow the way they’re supposed to, and in turn forming wildlife canopies, shade gardens. Everything that people are looking for in their gardening a lot of times can be achieved by backing off trying to keep things under control,” Smith said.
Smith and Wheat agree, whether you’re a farmer, a backyard gardener or just simply reside in the Pacific Northwest, climate change’s impact on sustainable growing matters. Plants that are meant to thrive in the Pacific Northwest are beginning to struggle, forcing us to think about what this means for other nonnative crops we depend on. So, while combating climate change is no easy feat, the small changes we make today will ultimately protect the environment and our food.
Elle Skvarna is a student at UW and a part of the UW News Lab.
Read more of the Feb. 28–March 5, 2023 issue.