| 2005 Weekly Update - Drought Conditions |
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| May 19, 2005 |
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04/05, Strawberry Mtns east of John Day (mouse over)
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The watermaster in the Deschutes, Lake and Klamath Basins reports that, even though snow pack and total accumulated precipitation for the water years is well below normal, stream flow is near normal to above normal. There is currently no regulation of stream flow to satisfy irrigators and instream water rights are being met. The timeliness and intensity of spring rains has kept demand for irrigation water well below normal. Reservoir releases are below normal because of the low demand for stored water. As an example, the North Unit irrigation District dropped their demand to 100 cfs. Normally it is 600 to 700 cfs this time of year. The outflow from Wickiup Reservoir is 350 cfs. Normally outflow would be about 1200 cfs.
In the Hood River and Lower Deschutes Basins the snow pack is gone below 5000 feet. Stream flow is below normal, but there is little demand for irrigation and instream water rights are being met. The stream flow forecast for May through September is 57% of normal, an improvement from the April forecast.
In the John Day Basin the watermaster reports rainfall for the month of May is 257% of normal, although accumulated rainfall since October 1 is only 81% of normal. Instream rights are currently being met, and there is little demand for irrigation water. Stream flow ranges from 139% to 350% of normal.
In the Rogue Basin the watermaster reports there has been an extraordinary amount of rain. This has been very good for the orchards, stream flow is up and both the Applegate Reservoir and the Lost Creek Reservoir are full and spilling.
In the Willamette Valley the Corps of Engineers have stored approximately 1 million acre-feet of water since the rain started in the middle of March. Most of the reservoirs are expected to fill, something none of the experts were predicting last winter. The watermaster reports both Barney and Scoggins Reservoirs are at full pool and spilling, and Tualatin Basin streamflow is normal. No shortages for domestic or irrigation water are expected this season.
In the Umatilla Basin the Umatilla River is flowing at a level that is 142% of 1977 flows, and the McKay Reservoir is 50% of normal storage. There is insufficient water available for irrigators on Butter Creek and the watermaster is regulating diversion.
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| May 3, 2005 |
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The water master in the Umatilla Basin reports the Umatilla River at Pendleton is flowing 299 cfs. This is 75% of 1977 flows on the same date, and there is currently sufficient water to meet all demands because the Westland Irrigation District is not using their full allotment. They are working to repair a canal breach that occurred last week. McKay Reservoir is 48% of capacity, and Butter Creek is flowing at 20.5 cfs which is similar to 1977 flows on the same date. The water master is regulating Butter Creek and the Walla River because there is insufficient water to meet demand.
In the South West part of Oregon rainfall continues to delay strong demand for users. Current supplies are sufficient. In the John Day Basin, the water master reports good rains during the latter part of last week and over the weekend continue to stem the need for water users to divert, and there has been no need for water right regulation. Accumulated precipitation for the water year in the upper basin is 72 percent of average. Recent rains have bumped up the rivers and smaller streams to some degree, although the flows are still well below average for this time of year. The best indicator of current stream flow is the John Day River at Service Creek which is flowing at 57 percent of average. The NRCS snotel report indicates the snow pack water content is averaging 43 percent of normal for this time of year.
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