Statewide drought declared because of 'dismal' snowpack

The state Department of Ecology issued a statewide emergency drought declaration Wednesday, April 8, because of what it calls "dismal" snowpack levels.

According to the department, the state had a wet winter, with 104% of normal precipitation.

However, an atypical amount of that precipitation fell as rain, rather than snow.

Rain can melt and wash away burgeoning snowpack.

"Even the heavy snowfall in mid-March was not enough to make up multiple months of poor snowpack growth, and early spring warmth has melted much of those gains," Karin Bumbaco, deputy state climatologist with the Washington State Climate Office, said in the news release.

"The weather progression this winter has lined up to deliver very challenging conditions going into spring and summer."

Statewide temperatures through the fall and winter were the third-highest since 1895.

The state now has about half of its normal snowpack.

The North Puget Sound region, which includes the Skagit River basin, had 68% of its normal snowpack as of Tuesday, April 7.

Ecology is expecting that the remaining snowpack will melt rapidly this spring, impacting farmers, fish and other wildlife, and raising wildfire risk.

This is the fourth statewide drought emergency declaration since 2015.

"Going into April with half of our usual snowpack is alarming," Ecology Director Casey Sixkiller said in the news release. "Without enough snow in the mountains, we must prepare for widespread shortages and challenges across our state."

The drought declaration allows the department to expedite the processing of emergency water right permits and transfer applications.

Ecology also adopted an emergency rule this past week that allows it to open an application period for its Drought Response Grant program. Applications will be taken through Aug. 7.

The state has set aside $3 million for the grant program.

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