| 2005 Monthly Update - Drought Conditions |
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| August, 2005 |
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With warm weather throughout the state, river and stream levels have dropped significantly. Nearly all of the watermasters are regulating live flow use by irrigators, and stored water is being used where it is available. Water availability conditions are probably best in the Willamette Valley. The central part of the state, beginning in the Umatilla Basin and extending south through the Upper Deschutes Basin and into the Klamath Basin are experiencing the worst water availability conditions. Live flow is also low in the Rogue Basin and the Powder River Basin.
The John Day Basin Watermaster reports:
Hot weather continues to cause a decline in streamflow. There are many water rights, including instream water rights, that are deficient.
The upper mainstem John Day River is under regulation. Water rights are regulated according to priority date, and more are added to the list on nearly a daily basis. Heavy cuts in priority dates for the river are forecast for the next several days in an effort to stabilize the base flow to Dayville where the South Fork John Day River joins. Indian Creek has been regulated to 1865 priority dates. Current stream flow readings for the John Day River at Service Creek are at 31 percent of average which is probably our best indicator of overall stream flows in the area.
The Hood River Watermaster reports:
Currently regulating Fifteenmile Creek back to 1860. All creek rights junior to 1860 are off (1856 is the earliest priority on the creek). Eightmile Creek is regulated back to 1909 and there is not enough water present to fully satisfy 1909 rights. Tygh Valley is being regulated back to 1909 and there is not enough water to fully satisfy 1909 rights. Badger Lake is expected to be empty by mid August, 2 to 3 weeks earlier than usual. Temperatures have remained in the upper 90's/ low 100's and there has been no measurable precipitation for quite some time. More regulation is likely in the coming weeks.
Hood River @ Tucker Bridge- 211 cfs on 8-8-2005. Average is 419 cfs based on 45 years of record.
Deschutes River @ Moody near Biggs, OR- 4390 cfs on 8-8-2005. Average is 4411 cfs based on 101 years of record.
The North Coast Watermaster reports:
To date water availability has been adequate, including instream water right needs. However, It is expected water levels will decline sharply with hot weather and regulation will be necessary.
The Upper Deschutes Basin Watermaster reports:
Water supply conditions in the basin have recently diminished considerably. The inflows to Prineville and Ochoco Reservoirs have dropped to nearly zero. We are currently regulating Mill Creek > Ochoco Creek back to 1870.
The natural flow of the Deschutes River is at a low 1100 cfs which is approximately 25 percent below average. Given the Deschutes River's natural stability, this is a significant reduction. Consequently, several irrigation Districts that draw water from Deschutes River are on storage - something that occurs about once every 10 years.
The Reservoirs in the upper Deschutes are dropping fairly rapidly and will be quite low at the end of the irrigation season.
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