Nearly half (17 of 36) of Oregon's counties are currently under drought emergency declarations

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Nearly half (17 of 36) of Oregon's counties are currently under drought emergency declarations following a historically warm winter and record-low snowpack. Statewide, approximately 87% of Oregon is experiencing some level of drought, bringing increased wildfire risks and early water curtailments. 

Current Emergency Declarations

Governor Tina Kotek has issued emergency declarations for 17 counties spanning across central, eastern, and southern Oregon: 

• Latest Additions: Douglas, Gilliam, Harney, Lake, and Malheur counties.
• Previous Declarations: Baker, Deschutes, Umatilla, Crook, Grant, Jackson, Jefferson, Morrow, Wallowa, Coos, Klamath, and Wheeler counties. 

Key Factors Driving the Drought

• Warm Winter & Low Snowpack: The state experienced one of its warmest winters on record, leading to historically low snowpack levels. 
• Early Melt: The snowpack is melting weeks earlier than usual, resulting in reduced streamflows and diminished water supplies for the summer months. 
• Multi-Year Deficits: The state is fighting lingering precipitation deficits and is operating within the backdrop of ongoing, long-term Western megadrought conditions. 

Impacts and Outlook

• Wildfires: Southern Oregon has already seen the start of its earliest wildfire season in recent history, prompting burn bans in several counties. 
• Agriculture & Water Supply: Farmers and ranchers are feeling the strain. The Crooked River Basin is seeing record-low streamflows, and fields in the Klamath Basin are facing programs to idle acreage to reduce water shortages. 
• Water Rights: The Oregon Water Resources Department anticipates that water rights regulation will hit older priority dates earlier than usual this year. 

If you'd like to check conditions for your specific area, you can track current alerts using the Oregon Water Resources Department Drought Watch or explore local Oregon | Drought.gov updates. 

Would you like to know the current drought category for your specific county, or check on the regional wildfire risk levels near you?

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| U.S. Drought Monitor

U.S. Drought Monitor

https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu › CurrentMap › StateDr...

The Drought Monitor focuses on broad-scale conditions. Below are examples of some of the impacts experienced in Oregon in the past. to drought severity at the ...

Oregon

Drought.gov

https://www.drought.gov › states › oregon

The region is primarily wet in winter but dry in summer, and has experienced multiple droughts in the early 21st century. These droughts affect agriculture, ...

Drought - Oregon Water Resources Department

Oregon.gov

https://www.oregon.gov › owrd › droughtwatch › pages