Governor Tina Kotek has declared a drought in Sherman and Lake counties through Executive Order 23-08, and directed state agencies to coordinate and prioritize assistance to the region.

Both counties are experiencing moderate to severe drought conditions, with over 90% of Lake County and 94% of Sherman County in drought, according to the United States Drought Monitor. Conditions have progressively worsened over winter and spring due to well below average precipitation.

While most of Oregon has seen drought conditions improve over the year, drought conditions in Sherman County have worsened from moderate to severe drought due to well below average precipitation. Streamflows in Sherman County are measuring at 88% of the long-term average. Likewise, streamflows in northern Lake County continue to measure below average as a result of lower than usual precipitation and little runoff response from snowmelt.

Drought is likely to have a significant economic impact on the farm, ranch, recreation, tourism and natural resources sectors, as well as an impact on 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 these areas. Extreme conditions are expected to affect local growers and livestock, increase the potential for fire, 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.

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

ORS 536.750 lists some of the activities that are permitted by the Water Resources Department following the declaration of a drought emergency. These are:

(a) Issue without first conducting a hearing under ORS 537.170, a temporary permit for an emergency use of water.
(b) Allow a temporary change in use, place of use or point of diversion of water without complying with the notice and waiting requirements under ORS 540.520
(c) Notwithstanding the priority of water rights, grant preference of use to rights for human consumption or stock watering use
(d) Waive the notice requirements under ORS 537.753 and the report required under ORS 537.762
(e) Allow a temporary exchange of water without giving notice as required under ORS 540.535, and
(f) Utilize an expedited notice and waiting requirement established by rule for the substitution of a supplemental ground water right for a primary water right under drought conditions in place of the notice and waiting requirement provided in ORS 540.524.

The Oregon Drought Readiness Council, a standing body composed of natural resource, public health, and emergency response agencies, received requests from the Lake County Board of Commissioners and Sherman County Board of Commissioners in May requesting Governor’s drought declarations.

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 the Governor declare drought in Lake and Sherman Counties for the 2023 calendar year, pursuant to ORS 536.740.

As state and local officials coordinate with federal partners, conditions will be closely monitored by the state’s natural resource and public safety agencies, including the Oregon Water Resources Department and the Oregon Department of Emergency Management.


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2023-05-27 09:50:20

Last Update: 2023-05-27 10:38:41