OLYMPIA — State lawmakers have approved $16 million in emergency drought relief over two years to help farmers and others struggling with water shortages.
The money was part of the two-year $38.2 billion operating budget and $3.9 billion capital construction budget that Gov. Jay Inslee signed late Tuesday.
The move frees the Department of Ecology to provide grants to lease water for farmers and other irrigators, protect fish and help municipalities with drought-related projects such as drilling emergency wells
Ecology had asked the Legislature for $9.6 million for one year.
In May, Gov. Jay Inslee declared a statewide emergency drought, clearing the way for the state to provide help to farmers and others.
The state is projecting $1.2 billion in crop losses from the drought.
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