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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Gregoire wants $4.1 million for droughts

Associated Press
OLYMPIA — Gov. Chris Gregoire is asking the Legislature to set aside $4.1 million for drought-relief projects that may be needed to counter below-average mountain snowpack this winter. Gregoire said Monday she’s asked House and Senate Democrats to transfer money from a disaster response fund to the drought relief account, which was depleted during last year’s budget cuts. Most snowpack levels in the state range from 50 to 83 percent of normal average. Only the Olympic peninsula is seeing above average levels, at 101 percent. Seventy to 80 percent of Washington’s surface water supplies come from mountain snowmelt in the summer.