Jefferson County's farmers are approaching the finish line on a tough irrigation season. The North Unit Irrigation District has confirmed its 2026 season will conclude on schedule with a final shutdown date of October 9 — a welcome bit of stability after a year that opened with significant uncertainty over water supplies.
The district serves roughly 58,000 acres of farmland across Jefferson County, supplying irrigation water from the Deschutes and Crooked rivers to growers who raise crops ranging from grass seed and wheat to mint and potatoes.
A Season That Started Under Drought Pressure
This spring, the North Unit board approved significantly reduced water allotments in response to drought conditions that gripped much of Central Oregon. Growers were allocated 1.30 acre-feet per acre from the Deschutes River and 0.65 acre-feet per acre from the Crooked River — cuts that forced many farms to make difficult decisions about which fields to plant and how to prioritize water use.
At the time, Jefferson County was among the hardest-hit areas in Oregon, with 94% of the county classified under severe drought conditions according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. Oregon declared a formal drought emergency for Jefferson County in the spring, though the scope of financial relief programs remained limited.
Season Closes Without Emergency Curtailments
In a sign that the region's farms managed through the constraints, North Unit officials said earlier this month that water deliveries and planned shutdowns are proceeding as expected, without the kind of emergency curtailments that can devastate late-season crops. Monitoring of Wickiup Reservoir, a key storage facility for the district, showed conditions stable enough to carry through to the October 9 close date.
Farmers across the county are now in the final weeks of harvest and winding down irrigation infrastructure ahead of the shutdown.
Looking Ahead to 2027
With snowpack forecasts and long-range precipitation outlooks for the coming winter still uncertain, water managers and growers will be watching mountain conditions closely as fall progresses. The district typically holds a season-end community meeting in October to review operations and discuss planning for the coming year.
Residents with questions about water deliveries or the shutdown timeline can contact the North Unit Irrigation District office at northunitidor.gov.