EMERGENCY DROUGHT FUNDING RULE ADOPTED

Ecology has adopted an emergency rule, chapter 173-167 WAC - Emergency Drought Funding. The emergency rule became effective on July 28, 2021 and is in effect until November 25, 2021.

On July 14, 2021, the Department of Ecology (Ecology) issued a Drought Emergency Declaration in all of Washington State, except for the Duwamish-Green, Cedar-Sammamish, Snohomish watersheds. The emergency rule provides eligibility and funding guidelines to alleviate hardships caused by the water shortage in drought areas. Initial funding prioritizes mitigating the most severe human health, fish health, and agricultural emergencies.

Other state agencies are working with Ecology to get funding most efficiently and expediently to public entities in need. Additional information on the emergency rule is available in Ecology’s news release and on their webpage:

• Drought spurs aid for farms, fish & public health - News Release - July 29, 2021
• Drought 2021 - Washington State Department of Ecology – main drought page
• WAC 173-167 (2021) - Washington State Department of Ecology – rule page