The Washington Department of Ecology declared a drought emergency April 16, excluding only Seattle, Tacoma and Everett.

The Washington Department of Ecology declared a drought emergency on April 16, anticipating low streams and rivers this summer because of a small snowpack.

The declaration excludes Seattle, Tacoma and Everett, three cities that have adequate water supplies in their reservoirs. The declaration frees up $4.5 million for public and tribal drought-relief projects elsewhere in the state.

The snowpack was 63% of normal as of April 16. Washington’s meteorological winter, December through February, was the 12th warmest in 129 years of record-keeping, according to the National Centers for Environmental Information. (In the west Olympic Coast region that includes Pacific County, this winter was the 10th warmest in the historical record, while precipitation was close to average.)

The state has received near-average rainfall since the water year began Oct. 1. The U.S. Drought Monitor categorizes 13% of the state in a “moderate” drought.

The drought declaration anticipates summer water supplies will be below 75% of normal, the threshold for the state to declare an emergency. The National Weather Service’s Climate Prediction Center forecasts the rest of the spring will be warmer and drier than average.

“There’s a snowpack drought,” Ecology drought coordinator Caroline Mellor said. “We expect things to get worse.”

Ecology will start taking applications for drought-relief grants from tribes and public agencies on April 17. No one entity can receive more than 25% of the pot. The money will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis, Mellor said.

Entities will have to match the state funds, except for tribes and drinking-water systems that serve areas identified as disadvantaged by the state or Environmental Protection Agency.