USDA DESIGNATES THREE WASHINGTON COUNTIES IN STATE OF PRIMARY NATURAL DISASTER

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated Asotin, Garfield, and Whitman counties primary natural disaster areas and in a state of extreme drought. These counties were excluded from the Washington Department of Ecology’s (Ecology) emergency drought declarations in April and June due to differences in methodology. Washington defines drought conditions to exist when less than 75% of normal water supply available and people or the environment experiences undue hardship. Through a drought declaration in Washington, Ecology is able to extend relief for drought to Tribes and eligible public entities through grants, but this relief can’t be extended to individual farmers.

Federal drought conditions are declared by the status designated to a county on the U.S. Drought Monitor and drought designation occurs during D3 “extreme drought” and D4 “exceptional drought” during a period of eight or more consecutive weeks during growing seasons. Portions of Whitman, Garfield, and Asotin counties are currently designated as D3 “extreme drought” according to the U.S. Drought Monitor, which makes federal Farm Service Agency emergency loan assistance available to farmers in these primary and neighboring counties.

Across the state, weather conditions have continued to deteriorate with Washington experiencing its third driest and 10^th hottest June on record. Snowpacks in the Nooksack area, Easy Pass, Brown Top, Lyman Lake, and Corral Pass melted days ahead of the normal schedule. Soil moisture levels have also been declining, which impacts the absorption of any precipitation into the ground. July and August forecasts by the Climate Prediction Center are calling for a higher probability of a warmer and drier than normal in Washington.