http://droughtreporter.unl.edu/

v 2.4.3.0

The Washington Department of Ecology extended the drought emergency declaration for watersheds in eight eastern Washington counties that was originally made in 2021. The declaration affects five watersheds covering parts of Spokane, Lincoln, Grant, Adams, Whitman, Stevens, Okanogan and Pend Oreille counties. The remaining counties east of the Cascade Range were put in “drought advisory” status. Counties west of the Cascades were no longer in drought conditions. Associated Press News (New York), May 26, 2022 Washington’s Cascade Mountains could use more snow to boost the water supply after the dry January and February 2022. The drought declaration made by the Department of Ecology in 2021 remained in effect. KGMI-AM (Bellingham, Wash.), March 2, 2022 Washington Gov. Jay Inslee declared a statewide drought emergency due to hot, dry weather. A drought emergency declaration is issued when the water supply is projected to be below 75% of average, and poses a risk of undue hardship to water users and uses. The declaration allows expedited emergency water right permitting and allows the state to aid state agriculture, protect public water supplies and increase stream flows to protect fish. Associated Press News (New York), July 14, 2021