The Washington State Tree Fruit Coalition has sent a letter to state governor, Christine Gregoire, have asked the governor to speed up the process of transferring water from other areas.
In the letter, industry leaders contend that despite significant economic contributions from the state, a drought could have devastating effects on local growers. They also want the department of ecology to issue temporary well permits and take steps to provide adequate funding in the future.
Miles Kohl from the Yakima Growers-Shippers Association said: "It really looks, unless things change, like one of the worst we've ever faced, and what we could see in this is where growers actually lost trees and vines as compared to crops in 2001."
Washington's tree fruit industry generates an estimated $5.5 billion for the state.
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