Water resources drought response grants
On April 8, 2025, Ecology issued a drought emergency declaration for the Yakima Basin watersheds, which include portions of Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton counties.
Ecology then issued a Drought Emergency Declaration on June 5 that expanded the April 8 declaration for 19 watersheds that include all of Whatcom and Skagit counties and portions of Snohomish, King, Pierce, Lewis, Thurston, Okanagan, Chelan, Clallam, Jefferson, and Ferry counties.
On May 23, 2025, the state Executive Water Emergency Committee determined that specific areas in Washington meet the statutory criteria for drought conditions described in Chapter 43.83B RCW, "water supply is less than 75 percent of normal, resulting in undue hardships to water users and the environment." Under SHB 1138, Emergency Drought Response, funding became available to alleviate immediate conditions from this drought. The adopted emergency drought funding rule, Chapter 173-167 WAC, will remain in effect until August 7, 2025.
Ecology may extend the emergency rule based on evolving drought conditions. If the emergency rule is extended, the grant guidelines below will be updated to reflect the extended date to which applications may be submitted.
Funding cycle
- Amount of funding available: Up to $4.5 million
- Grant award limit: A project cannot exceed more than 25% of total funds available.
- Amount of matching funds required: Cost-share funds of at least 50% are required, unless the applicant is a public water system that serves an economically disadvantaged community.
Applications are currently being accepted.
The end date will be extended if the emergency rule is extended based on evolving conditions.
The application period will remain open while the drought declaration and an emergency rule are in effect. Applications are available via Ecology’s Administration of Grants and Loans system (EAGL).
Funding is available for the following entities:
Public entities included in the current drought emergency declaration:
- County or city governmental agencies
- Federally-recognized tribes
- Public utility districts, formed under Chapter 54.04 RCW
- Water and sewer districts, formed under Chapter 57.02 RCW
- Conservation districts, formed under Chapter 89.08 RCW
- Irrigation districts, formed under Chapter 87.03 RCW
- Port districts, formed under Chapter 53.04 RCW
- Watershed management partnerships, formed under RCW 39.34.200
To be eligible for funding, one or more of the following must be partially or completely within the area of a drought declaration order by Ecology:
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The public water system’s service area.
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The geographic area where irrigated agriculture or livestock are located.
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The source of water, or the water body, that supplies water to the entity applying for funding.
The reduction in water supply caused by drought must cause, or will cause, undue hardship, as described under WAC 173-167-120.
See the Drought Emergency Response Guidance for additional examples.
More information about this funding program
- Funding Program Guidelines
- 2025 Emergency Drought Application Instructions and Managing Your Grant in EAGL
- Information about the Emergency Drought Funding Rule (Chapter 173-167 WAC)
- Drought response information
Related links
Contact information
Caroline Mellor
Statewide Drought Lead
caroline.mellor@ecy.wa.gov
360-628-4666
Shanyese Trujillo
Contract & Grant Planner, EAGL Application Questions
Shanyese.Trujillo@ecy.wa.gov
360-628-2451