Drought declaration hangs in the balance

April 3, 2024, the Jefferson County Commissioners declared a local disaster drought emergency and submitted their request to the State of Oregon. They’ve made the same declaration for the last five years. This year, however, the proposal was denied, with the potential to reconsider.

The initial denial cited current hydrologic conditions and full reservoirs in the region, as well as it being early in the season. Thanks to appeals from county commissioner Kelly Simmelink, the Oregon Drought Committee is reconsidering the request on May 15.

Even though the initial declaration was denied, county representatives, farmers and ranchers are not giving up. Participants who helped write the Drought Resiliency Plan for Jefferson County have also written to the Oregon Office of Emergency Management and Water Resources Department to request reconsideration of the decision.

Josh Bailey, Manager at North Unit Irrigation District spoke to the Drought Resiliency group May 8 regarding projects NUID is working on. As for the drought declaration, he explained that water in the reservoirs, what the state originally based their denial on, is not the whole story.

NUID patrons are receiving approximately 50% of their past allotments this year. They have not received their full allotment since 2018. “A single year of above average snowpack is not enough to make up for years of drought conditions,” said Bailey.

The drought declaration unlocks additional funding avenues and raises awareness about drought conditions. It begins a process of coordinating with the state, Water Resources Department, and brings water right holders with access to emergency water management tools. It makes possible things like the transfer of water rights, emergency water use permits, and other water exchanges not otherwise allowed.

Currently, the U.S. Drought monitor places Jefferson County in the abnormally dry category. The United State Department of Agriculture designates the county as being in a drought.

Mike Britton, executive director of NUID, added “It will take multiple years of average and above average snowpack to get us back to normal. Springs and tributaries are still below average. We need the drought declaration for recovery of drought conditions.”