MADRAS, OR -- Oregon’s strong snowpack brought reduced drought conditions, but one county has already asked for a state drought declaration this year. Jefferson County Commissioners sent the request in early April, but a state committee has delayed its response.
North Unit Irrigation District Executive Manager Mike Britton says the water outlook on paper is not reflective of what’s happening on local farms. "The request isn’t so much related to a hydrologic drought, as it is for a recovery effort from drought," Britton tells KBND News, "At the local level, our farmers are only getting half of their normal water supply. There’s still thousands of acres of fallow fields, simply because there isn’t enough water as a result of the drought. And not just the drought, but the multiple years of drought." He adds, "If there’s not a drought declaration, they simply cannot apply for federal drought aid."
Britton says most farmers make their planting decisions in the fall. But this past year, that decision was made on the heels of a very dry season, "The summer’s set for our farmers. You can’t get halfway through a growing season and decide you don’t want to grow something or water that field. The plans are already set in motion. They need the help, to be honest with you. And that’s what we’re trying to accomplish. Last year, the Governor approved drought declarations for 13 counties. So far this year, Jefferson County is the only one to submit a request.
Aside from asking for the state emergency declaration, Britton says there's not much else the county can do to help irrigators, "We really don’t have much leverage to do anything, other than make our legislators aware; we’ve made the governor aware." Governor Tina Kotek visited a Culver carrot seed farm in August. "Thank goodness she was here because she has a better understanding of why we’re asking for this," says Britton.
The state committee will consider Jefferson County’s request again in mid-June.
Image: (05/23/24) The latest report from the U.S. Drought Monitor shows Jefferson County outside of the area deemed "Abnormally Dry," the lowest designation.
