June 28,2023 3:00 a.m.

On Tuesday, Governor Tina Kotek declared a drought emergency in Jackson County through an Executive Order.

A release from the Governor’s Office said this directs state agencies to coordinate and prioritize assistance to the region.

May was one of the warmest months on record and high temperatures exacerbated evaporative and water supply demands. While conditions have improved since the beginning of the water year 2023, a majority of Jackson County is experiencing moderate drought conditions, while the rest of the county is experiencing abnormally dry conditions.

The release said over Jackson County is averaging just sixty-five percent of the long-term average streamflow over the water year to date, while the Rogue Basin as a whole is measuring seventy-five percent of average. Although stream flows benefitted from the above average snowpack the basin received, stream flows quickly receded and are currently measuring below average conditions and continue to trend downwards throughout the county.

The release said the drought declaration 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 expediate review processes and reduce fee schedules.

As state and local officials coordinate with federal partners, conditions will be closely monitored by the state’s natural resource and public safety agencies.

This drought declaration marks the ninth made by Governor Kotek this calendar year.