The drought gripping Central Oregon is no longer an abstract concern for the future. For farmers and ranchers in Jefferson County and across the Deschutes Basin, it is here now — and state water experts warn conditions are unlikely to improve before the end of the growing season.
River stream flows across most of Oregon are running well below normal for mid-July. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, as much as 86% of Oregon is currently in some form of drought, and 19 of the state’s 36 counties are under active drought emergency declarations.
The Snowpack Problem
The root cause is straightforward, if unforgiving. Oregon recorded some of the warmest winter months in the state’s history this past year, and snowpack in the Cascades came in meager by any measure. In parts of the mountains, what little snow did accumulate melted weeks ahead of schedule.
"A large part of the state relies on that natural reservoir to sustain stream flows," said Cameron Greenwood, a hydrologist with the Oregon Water Resources Department. "And since we didn’t get it, we’re already seeing really record-low stream flow conditions across much of the state."
What It Means for Local Water Users
For Jefferson County, the epicenter of the problem is the upper Deschutes system. The North Unit Irrigation District — which serves much of the county’s agricultural land north of Madras — began pulling water from the Deschutes River system in April. In a typical year, the river’s natural flow can meet the demands of all regional irrigation districts through early June.
This year, the North Unit has relied almost entirely on water stored in Wickiup Reservoir to make up for the river’s shortfall. That reservoir, which began the season at 93% of capacity in April, had already dropped to just 46% by early July — and it is expected to fall much further before fall.
Meanwhile, at least one other Central Oregon reservoir — Crescent Lake — is tracking toward its lowest level since the 1990s, with water deliveries to dependent farms expected to stop entirely by mid-August.
Junior Rights Curtailed — For the First Time
In a marker of just how severe conditions are, some irrigation districts have already curtailed junior water rights between Bend and Redmond — a step that local water managers say may be unprecedented in the region.
Oregon water law operates on a "first in time, first in right" basis, meaning rights holders with older priority dates retain access to water before those with more recent rights. As the Deschutes system dwindles, junior rights holders are the first to be cut off.
State officials say the situation is unlikely to reverse. "The U.S. Drought Monitor released their seasonal outlook, which indicates that the entire state is either going to see drought develop or persist," Greenwood said. "Come September, we’re likely going to be in a pretty rough spot with respect to water resources."
Help Available for Producers
Oregon’s WaterSMART Initiative is currently accepting applications to help farmers and ranchers fund upgrades to more efficient irrigation systems. Producers can contact the Oregon Water Resources Department or their local irrigation district office to learn more about eligibility and timelines.
The USDA also reports that the national beef cow inventory has hit its lowest point in 75 years, driven in part by back-to-back droughts forcing herd liquidations. For ranching families across Jefferson County, the pressure is coming from multiple directions at once.