Drought Emergency Orders.  The Department of Ecology (Ecology) is authorized to declare drought emergencies by administrative order.  Before it may declare a drought emergency, Ecology must determine an area is experiencing or is expected to experience less than 75 percent of normal water supply and is expected to suffer undue hardships as a result of the dry conditions.  Prior to issuing an order, Ecology must first consult with federal and state agencies and must receive approval from the Governor.  Legislation passed in 2020 authorized Ecology to issue a drought advisory when it appears drought conditions may develop, based on statutory definitions of normal water supply and drought conditions.
 
Ecology may, upon issuing a drought emergency order, authorize emergency withdrawals of public surface and ground waters, as long as the withdrawals are put to beneficial uses and will not reduce flows below the essential minimum for fisheries and other state and federal interests.  Issuing a drought order also allows Ecology to approve temporary changes in the use of a water right, employ additional people, acquire emergency equipment, and revise any drought contingency plans.
 
The drought emergency order also allows Ecology to make loans or grants from emergency water supply funds when necessary to help alleviate drought conditions.  Under the grant program, eligible public entities may apply for grants for projects such as creation of additional water storage, development of emergency water supplies, and projects designed to mitigate for the impacts of water supply shortages on fish and wildlife.  Projects must show substantial benefit from securing water supply, availability, or reliability relative to project costs.  Any project funded by grant funding must be completed while the drought emergency order is in effect.  These expenditures are made from the State Emergency Water Projects Revolving Account.  In addition to that account, Ecology manages the State Drought Preparedness and Response Account (Preparedness and Response Account).  Funds in the Preparedness and Response Account may be used by Ecology for drought preparedness.
 
Joint Legislative Committee on Water Supply During Drought.  The Joint Legislative Committee on Water Supply During Drought (Drought Committee) is comprised of eight legislative members and must include the chairs of the water resources committees of each legislative chamber.  The Drought Committee may convene from time to time at the call of the chair when a drought emergency order is in effect or when the chair determines, in consultation with Ecology, it is likely such an order will be issued within the next year.  When a drought conditions order is in effect, Ecology must provide the Drought Committee with at least monthly reports describing drought response activities of Ecology and other state and federal agencies.  The Drought Committee is authorized to make recommendations to the Legislature on budgetary and legislative actions to improve the state's drought response programs and planning.

The name of the Preparedness and Response Account is changed to the State Drought Preparedness Account (Preparedness Account).  At the beginning of each biennium, the State Treasurer must transfer $2,000,000 from the general fund into the Preparedness Account.  Expenditures may be used for both drought planning and preparedness activities, including grants under the existing grant program.  Projects do not need to be completed while a drought emergency order is in effect.
 
An Emergency Drought Response Account is established to fund emergency drought response actions and grants to public entities to provide relief for the immediate hardship caused by water unavailability while a drought emergency order is in effect.  Upon the issuance of a drought emergency order, the State Treasurer must transfer from the general fund to the Emergency Drought Response Account an amount necessary to bring the balance to $3,000,000.  Ecology must provide the Office of Financial Management, Senate Ways and Means Committee and House Appropriations Committee, and the Drought Committee with a close-out summary following the expiration of the drought emergency order. 
 
The chair of the Drought Committee may convene the committee when a drought advisory is in effect.  Ecology must include information on grant funding in its monthly reports to the Drought Committee when a drought emergency order is in effect.

PRO:  Last year's emergency drought declaration occurred after session and Ecology did not have funds to assist with drought relief.  Agriculture was especially impacted by the combination of both heat and drought.  Raspberries saw a 30 percent reduction, wheat production fell in some areas by 50 percent, and cherry production was down 20 percent.  Given the impacts experienced by residents of the state, convening the Drought Committee sooner could prove to be very helpful.  Droughts are occurring at an alarming rate in Washington and this bill creates permanent funding for planning and resiliency.  This bill implements key recommendations from the state's drought implementation plan and last year's after-action review of Ecology's drought response.  The bill ensures that funding is available for Ecology to take immediate action upon a drought declaration.  The bill also provides stable funding for drought planning and preparation to build water supply resilience in Washington.  More planning and preparation is essential in the face of predicted increased droughts.