Section 173-166-050. Forecast of drought conditions.

(1) Whenever it appears to the department of ecology that drought conditions as defined in WAC 173-166-030(2) either exist or are forecast to occur, ecology will consult with the state's water supply availability committee or its successor. Other appropriate sources of water supply information, such as the Columbia River water management group and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, may be consulted by the WSAC as needed.

(2) Should the water supply availability committee determine that a geographical area or a part of a geographical area is receiving, or is likely to receive, seventy-five percent or less of its normal water supply, it will advise the executive water emergency committee and the Indian tribes within the area of that fact. The executive water emergency committee will then make a determination as to whether or not undue hardships will occur as a result of the shortage.

(3) Should the executive water emergency committee determine that an area will suffer undue hardship as a result of a reduced water supply, it will submit a recommendation to that effect to the governor for written approval. Affected Indian tribes will be notified at the time such a recommendation is submitted.

(4) Upon securing the written approval of the governor, ecology will then issue an order declaring a geographical area or a significant part of a geographical area to be suffering from drought conditions and publish that order in a newspaper of general circulation in the area affected by the order.

(5) The determination of drought conditions will be based upon the updated seasonal forecast as applied to the water supply conditions within the designated geographical area or part of a designated geographical area.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 43.83B.420. WSR 91-03-081 (Order 90-53), § 173-166-050, filed 1/17/91, effective 2/17/91. Statutory Authority: 1977 c 339 § 75. WSR 78-04-019 (Order 78-3), § 173-166-050, filed 3/10/78.]

RCW 43.83B.420. WSR 91-03-081 (Order 90-53), § 173-166-050, filed 1/17/91, effective 2/17/91. Statutory Authority: 1977 c 339 § 75. WSR 78-04-019 (Order 78-3), § 173-166-050, filed 3/10/78.

Rules

173-166-030,