September 6, 2023 11:10 a.m.
On Wednesday, Governor Tina Kotek declared a drought in Douglas County and directed state agencies to coordinate and prioritize assistance to the region.
A release from the Governor’s office said Douglas County is experiencing below to well below average streamflows with some streams measuring record low flows. The reservoir storage in the Rogue River Basin Project is also measuring below average. The county has experienced below to well below average precipitation over the water year and over the past 90 days, with May through July being the sixth-driest period on record.
The release said drought is likely to have a significant economic impact on the farm, ranch, recreation, tourism and natural resources sectors. Drought also impacts drinking water, fish and wildlife and important minimum flows for public instream uses and other natural resources dependent on adequate precipitation, stored water and streamflow in the area.
Extreme conditions are expected to affect local growers and livestock, increase the potential for wildfire, shorten the growing season and decrease water supplies.
The drought declaration by Governor Kotek unlocks a number of drought-related emergency tools for water users, including assistance to local water users. Drought declarations also allow the Water Resources Department to expedite review processes and reduce fee schedules.
The Oregon Drought Readiness Council, a standing body composed of natural resource, public health, and emergency response agencies, received a request from the Douglas County Board of Commissioners for the Governor’s Drought Declaration.
The council received input from Oregon’s Water Supply Availability Committee on regional water supply conditions and council members have conferred on this matter. The council recommended that that the Governor declare drought in Douglas County in this calendar year, pursuant to Oregon Revised Statutes,
Governor Kotek also declared drought in Gilliam and Lincoln counties. There are now declared drought declarations in twelve counties this calendar year.