A bill to provide funding to deal with Washington’s droughts received strong support in a legislative hearing Friday.
The Washington Department of Ecology, the Washington Public Utility Districts Association, the Washington Water Trust, and the Washington Conservation Commission testified in favor of House Bill 1138 before the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee. Fifteen people signed in as supporters but did not testify.
The bill by Rep. Mike Chapman (D) would create a $2.5 million drought relief fund every state budget biennium, with the 2023-2025 biennium starting July 1. If the governor declares an official drought for part of the state, that fund would be increased up to $3 million.
The Washington Senate unanimously passed the same bill in 2022, but the legislative session expired before the House could vote on it.
When a major drought unexpectedly hit most of Washington in summer 2021, the state had to scramble to find money internally to help rural areas and small cities deal with the effects. Because the drought occurred after the 2021 legislative session had ended, no money had been set aside.
“When [the legislature] completes the budget, you cannot know the streams situation in July, August or September,” said Bill Clarke, representing the Washington Public Utility Districts Association. Washington’s legislative sessions usually end in March or April each year.
In 2021, Gov. Jay Inslee declared emergency drought conditions for roughly two-thirds of the state. The declarations triggered measures including moving water withdrawal allowances from one area to another, finding other emergency water supplies and dealing with situations when water has become scarce enough to hamper the passage of salmon up and down streams.
Inslee blamed the 2021 drought on climate change.
The bill would provide a stable pool of money for drought relief, said Ria Berns of the state ecology department.
“It will lessen a drought’s impacts on the state’s economy,” Jon Culp, of the state conservation commission, said.