Central Oregon irrigation districts seeking drought declarations
3/18/2022 12:00:00 AM
CATEGORIES:
Agriculture
Relief, Response & Restrictions
Water Supply & Quality
AFFECTED AREAS:
Crook County, OR
Deschutes County, OR
Jefferson County, OR
Start Date: 3/3/2022
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Crook and Jefferson counties made drought declarations already, while Deschutes County just declared drought on March 16. Low snowpack and dry soil in Central Oregon could be portending the driest summer yet after two very hot, dry years. Snowpack was about 74% of normal, according to the Natural Resources Conservation Service, and water year precipitation to date was 84%.
The Bend Bulletin (Ore.), March 17, 2022
Low snowpack in the mountains and low water levels in reservoirs have led to very early requests for drought declarations from eight districts in central Oregon. There simply is not enough water to keep irrigation canals full during the April through October growing season.
Central Oregon Daily (Bend, Ore.), March 3, 2022
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