Washington Department of Ecology issues drought emergency declaration

OLYMPIA - The Washington Department of Ecology issued a drought emergency for nearly all of the state July 14.

Seattle, Tacoma and Everett are excluded from the drought declaration, as they have stored water, according to the DOE.

A drought emergency declaration means water supply is projected to be below 75% of average, and there is a risk of undue hardship to water users and uses. With a formal drought declaration in place, DOE is authorized to take certain measures for the purpose of providing emergency drought relief, including expediting processing for emergency drought permits, processing temporary transfers of water rights; providing funding assistance for public entities, and holding public education workshops.

The DOE issued a drought advisory for 29 counties in late May, following the fourth-driest March through April on record, with dryness continuing into June. According to DOE, statewide averages of precipitation in March through June this year tied with 1926 as the second driest period since 1895.

Triple-digit temperatures in late June quickly worsened drought conditions.

A June 15 request to Governor Jay Inslee to declare a drought emergency by wheat industry officials was responded to June 24 by DOE Director Laura Watson, denying the request.

"Now Ecology, along with the departments of Fish and Wildlife, Agriculture, and Natural Resources, are reporting signs of stressed fish; farmers and ranchers are being forced to cut back on irrigation; and wildfires are burning through dry vegetation," said a DOE spokesperson July 14.

"While the governor's drought declaration is welcome and expected news, it is long overdue for part of our state," Senator Mark Schoesler (R-Ritzville) said Wednesday, July 14. "Farmers throughout eastern Washington have known since early this spring that we are facing a serious drought problem in our region, and the very hot and dry summer so far has just made it worse. It's nice that the governor is finally recognizing how serious this problem really is for both sides of our state. But it's disappointing and frustrating that it's taken him this long to recognize and act on a problem that we've seen and endured in our region for months."