Water Security Drought Grant Initiative
Agency
Ecology, Department of
Title of action
Water Security Drought Grant Initiative
Date significant agency action was initiated
Thursday, September 14, 2023
Category
New grant or loan program
Brief description of significant agency actions for which the agency is initiating an environmental justice assessment.
Ecology is developing a new pilot grant initiative focused on local water security preparedness and planning in the context of drought. In 2024, Ecology will make $1.8 million available statewide via competitive grants for Tribes and local applicants to plan for future water security. These plans will identify the specific actions, and associated costs and timeframes, a local community intends to take to increase its water supply security as it faces the burden of intensifying severity and expanding drought conditions as our climate continues to change.
While designed to benefit all members of a given local community, this water security grant program will prioritize the water security for Federally recognized Tribal governments, overburdened communities, and vulnerable populations.
Methods for providing public comment for agency consideration as part of the environmental justice assessment.
Ecology invites comments and questions from people in overburdened communities and vulnerable populations, including water systems that include overburdened and vulnerable members of that community. Information about the EJ Assessment and the grant program are available on the program website. Members of the public can direct their comments to Caroline Mellor, Water Resources HEAL ACT lead at Caroline.Mellor@ecy.wa.gov.
Link to agency webpage where the action is posted.
