Jefferson County Farms Strain Through Driest Summer in Years as Water Cutbacks Bite

The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office responded to a range of incidents between August 3 and 9, including a suspected impaired driver who crashed off Highway 97 north of Madras, a domestic violence arrest at Crooked River Ranch, and a tractor theft in Madras.

One of Oregon's premier summer events is just weeks away. The Airshow of the Cascades returns to Madras Municipal Airport on August 28 and 29, bringing two days of aerobatics, vintage aircraft, a car show, live music, vendors, and family activities to Jefferson County.

Jefferson County residents should brace for a dangerous stretch of weather this week, with temperatures forecast to reach 103 to 104 degrees through Friday amid persistent wildfire smoke. Health officials are urging residents — particularly the elderly, children, and those with respiratory conditions — to take precautions.

All evacuation levels on the Warm Springs Reservation have been lifted following weeks of wildfire threat. Tribal leadership has opened a community distribution center to assist displaced residents, with operations transitioning to Emergency Management on Wasco Street beginning Monday.

A punishing combination of record-low snowpack and aggressive water curtailments is forcing Jefferson County farmers to make hard choices, with North Unit Irrigation District patrons receiving only about 57% of a normal water supply.