Better, but: Jefferson County declares drought emergency for fifth straight year, seeks state declaration

MADRAS, Ore. (KTVZ) – Jefferson County commissioners on Wednesday declared a local drought disaster and began the process of seeking a state drought emergency declaration for the fifth straight year, noting continued serious water supply issues for farmers and others, despite some improvements seen from a late winter.

Wickiup Reservoir, for example, stands at 152,504 acre-feet, below the historical average of 186,995 acre-feet for this time of year. While out of extreme drought, the U.S. Drought Monitor map for Oregon has the region still in “abnormally dry” or “moderate drought” conditions.

A second-quarter outlook is for below-normal precipitation, the resolution states, while “natural flows and reservoir supplies are at or near all-time lows,” while the North Unit and Three Sisters irrigation districts are warning of more “shortages and/or shutoffs this year.”

An Oregon Water Resources Department database indicates no other county has yet to seek a state drought declaration so far this year, while 13 were declared last year, including all three Central Oregon counties.