
WASHINGTON 
Weather and Water Conditions 
Water conditions in the pothole habitat have improved 
further, and water conditions are good over the entire State, with the 
exception of the lower Yakima Valley. In this area a May flood caused 
some danage to nesting waterfowl, This was followed by unusually hot 
weather, which evaporated most of the shallow water areas, 
Production Data 
Estimates of the waterfowl breeding population, combined 
with brood studies to date, indicate a seven percent increase over 1956. 
This would raise the waterfowl index for the State to 569,000, the high- 
est since 1952 (Table 1). 
In eastern Washington it appears at the present time that 
blue-winged teal will be up around 345 percent; cinnamons and green- 
winged téal will be up 20 percent, and mallards, 13 percent. Pintail, 
baldpate and shoveler all show moderate decreases. Columbia and Snake 
River Canada goose breeding populations show a seven percent increase. 
In western Washington, mallards and wood ducks are both up about 50 
percent. Blue-winged teal are up 13 percent, 
Table 1 « Comparison of Waterfowl Production of Previous Years with 
that Anticipated for 1957 
Est. 
Region 1952 | 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 
Eastern Washington 
684,300 364,500 377,500 366,500 468,500 472,000 
Western Washington 
31,000 38,000 35,000 25,300 64,900 97,000 

State total 715,300 402,500 412,500 391,800 533,400 569,000 

Conclusions 
It is estimated that the fall flight from Washington will be 
somewhat larger than it was in 1956. 
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