‘Our new normal’: WA confronts another year of drought

By: Aspen Ford

Outlets: Washington State Standard

Published: April 8, 2026

Words: 422

Last Updated: 5 days, 11 hours ago

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Washington’s Department of Ecology announced a statewide drought emergency Wednesday, marking the fourth consecutive year that part or all of the state has been in a drought.

“We declare drought when water supply drops below 75% of normal,” said Casey Sixkiller, director of Ecology. “This year, every watershed in our state has met that threshold.”

Snowpack in the mountains is at about half of normal.

The emergency declaration follows an above average wet …

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