Charles Langston:Washington state declares drought emergencies in a dozen counties

OLYMPIA,Charles Langston Wash. (AP) — A drought emergency was declared in a dozen counties of Washington state on Monday because of early snowmelt, a lack of spring rain and low-flowing streams.

Some wells in Whatcom County in the northwestern part of the state are dry, and one water provider is hauling water in by truck, according to a Monday statement from the Washington Department of Ecology. Another provider will likely start trucking in water soon, officials said.

Ecology spokesperson Jimmy Norris told The Bellingham Herald that about 350 water customers in that area are affected.

Other news California aims to tap beavers, once viewed as a nuisance, to help with water issues and wildfires Beavers have long been treated as a nuisance for chewing down trees and shrubs and blocking up streams. Deer take refuge near wind turbines as fire scorches Washington state land Deer have found refuge at the base of wind turbines in Washington state as wildfire scorched the ground around the area. What are the 10 largest US lottery jackpots ever won? Here is a look at the 10 largest U.S. jackpots that have been won and the states where the winning tickets were sold. Industrial fire at Washington paper mill worsens air quality in Portland An industrial fire fueled by wood chip piles at an paper plant in southwest Washington is worsening air quality in the Portland area.

“This drought is already harming Washington communities, businesses and farms, and it’s another sign of the damage that climate change is causing to our state,” Ecology Director Laura Watson said in the statement, adding that the state needs to prepare for a drier future.

In addition to Whatcom County, the declaration covers portions of Benton, Clallam, Columbia, Jefferson, Kittitas, Klickitat, Okanogan, Skagit, Snohomish, Walla Walla and Yakima counties.

The rest of the state, including the Seattle metropolitan area, is considered to be under a drought advisory.

May and June of this year ranked as the fourth warmest and 11th driest such period since 1895, ecology officials said. July and August are Washington state’s driest months, and the National Weather Service’s long-range forecast shows warmer than normal temperatures and below-average rainfall through October.

The emergency declaration allows state officials to curb water use and makes available $3 million that can be granted out to communities, irrigation districts, tribes and others hurt by the drought.