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Department of Ecology
Committees, Boards, and Workgroups

Water Supply Availability Committee

 Ecology home | Water supply | Statewide conditions | Water Supply Availability Committee (WSAC)

Last revised: Sept. 4, 2026

                       

The Water Supply Availability Committee (WSAC) is a group of experts from state and federal agencies who evaluate statewide water supply conditions. Ecology convenes this group monthly. WSAC provides an important consultative and advisory role to Ecology related to current and forecasted water supply conditions and whether the hydrologic drought threshold has been met or is likely to be met: seventy-five percent of normal water supply within a geographic area (RCW 43.83B.405 and WAC 173-166-050).

If you would like to receive notices about WSAC meetings after they are posted to this page, subscribe to the Washington Water Supply Email list

WSAC's membership includes representatives from:

  • Department of Ecology
  • Office of Washington State Climatologist
  • U.S. Geological Survey
  • National Weather Service
  • Natural Resources Conservation Service
  • U.S. Bureau of Reclamation
  • U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
  • Bonneville Power Administration

If conditions warrant, WSAC can advise Ecology to convene the Executive Water Emergency Committee (EWEC), which is made of state agency leaders with a stake in water supplies. These leaders assess findings from WSAC and can recommend the governor direct Ecology to issue a drought advisory or an emergency drought declaration.

Helpful links
Drought Response main page: https://ecology.wa.gov/water-shorelines/water-supply/water-availability/statewide-conditions/drought-response
Drought Response grants webpage: https://ecology.wa.gov/about-us/payments-contracts-grants/grants-loans/find-a-grant-or-loan/drought-emergency-grants
Drought Response Grant Guidance: https://apps.ecology.wa.gov/publications/SummaryPages/2611013.html

2026 Meetings

The September and October WSACs are cancelled. We will reconvene in November.

 

Oct. 8, 2026 is the American Water Resources Association (AWRA) WA Annual State Conference 2026. 

We encourage folks to register for the OR/WA Water Year 2026 Recap & 2027 Outlook Meeting, held virtually the mornings of Nov. 2 and 3 (no cost).

  • The goal of this meeting is to share and gather information regarding climate impacts of the 2026 water year. December flooding, lack of winter snowpack, drought development, and the above average wildfire season will be topics of discussion.
  • This meeting will also offer the opportunity to learn from others about mitigation actions that were taken through group discussion.
  • Forecast experts will provide expectations for 2027, including discussion of what the very strong El Niño in the tropical Pacific means for the region.
  • An end-of-water year survey will be available soon for participants (and others) to record impacts and actions taken to minimize those impacts, which will also be discussed during the workshop. Both the survey and the workshop will help inform an annual PNW Water Year Impacts Assessment.

August 13

July 9

June 11

May 14

March 12

February 12

January 9

2025 Meetings

December 11

November 13

October 9

August 14

July 10

June 12

May 8

April 10

March 13

February 13

January 10

2024 Meetings

December 12

November 14

October 11

September 11

July 24

June 26

May 22

March 27

February 28

January 24

2023 Meetings

August 18

June 23

May 19

April 21

March 23

February 17

January 20

2022 Meetings

November 19

July 22

April 8

March 18

February 18

January 14

2021 Meetings

December 3

October 15

August 13

July 23

Meeting materials:

June 25

Meeting materials:

2021 meeting information for January - May can be requested. If you need something immediately contact Chris Anderson, see below.

2020 Meetings

December 11

August 7

April 13

February 28

January 24

 

Contacts

Caroline Mellor
Commitee Chair, Water Resources Program
caroline.mellor@ecy.wa.gov  

 

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