You’re
driving on a remote road and look at the fuel gage. Less than a quarter tank
and there was a sign 30 miles ago warning of no service for 100 miles.
That could be an apt analogy for the situation facing some farm and ranch
irrigators in Central Oregon as storage levels in Wickiup Reservoir dip below
2%, a decades low with some warnings it could be empty in a few weeks.
Most
at risk are irrigators in the northern reaches of Central Oregon served by the
North Unit Irrigation District, whose water rights are “junior” to others in
the Deschutes River Basin.
Already
some growers have given up hopes of another cutting of late season hay or other
crops, preparing to write off a bad year. But given the low level of Wickiup
there’s also mounting concern that another below average snowpack as with this
past winter could lead to even more troubles come Spring of 2019.
Abnormally
hot weather during August and the lack of any measurable rain at lower
elevations in the basin since mid-June have only created more stress on the
network of irrigation districts that distribute water in the basin.
As
of September 20 the US Department of Agriculture’s drought monitor showed that
only a thin northern strip of three counties in northeastern Oregon had escaped
some level of drought designation. And even that area was classified as
abnormally dry.
Most
of Deschutes County was in the “extreme drought” minus a small northeastern portion
of the northeastern county, which was in “severe drought. (See drought map).
All
told nearly 97.68% of the state was in some state of drought, and 88.07% in the
severe to extreme category. That compares to 28.57% in moderate drought the same
period of the previous year, when no area was classified in a higher drought condition.
Apart from heat jokes...a serious water situation in Central Oregon
Water update - so far so good but Central Oregon is holding its breath
Previous posts regarding water
Water update - so far so good but Central Oregon is holding its breath
