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| March 30, 2005 |
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Drought Council Update
The Oregon Drought Council met on March 29 to consider requests from six Oregon counties for state drought declarations. After a report from the Water Availability Committee on water conditions, the Council agreed to forward the six requests to the Governor's office with a recommendation that the Governor make the declarations. The six counties are Crook, Gilliam, Hood River, Sherman, Umatilla and Morrow. The Council next discussed the posibility of a recommendation to the Governor for a statewide drought declaration. Although water supply conditions are well below normal, and drought conditions are expected in many parts of Oregon this summer, the Council decided that timely spring and early summer rains could provide the mitigation needed to avoid emergency conditions in some counties. The Council decided to continue giving preference to local government by waiting for a request before taking action. However, it was decided to forward all requests from counties immediately to the Governor's office with a recommendation to issue the declaration. Additionally, the Council is planning to consider the statewide declaration issue at the next meeting on April 26.
The rain has been a tremendous help -
Generally, stream flow is up and soil moisture conditions have improved.
In the southwest part of the state watermasters report the storm delayed water problems "somewhat." The Illinois has increased from 300 cfs to over 8,000 cfs. Many areas received 1.5 to 2 inches of rain with snow levels dropping to near 4,000 feet at times. The Applegate River flow has increased 1,000 cfs. from several tributaries including Williams Creek and Thompson Creek. Contributions from these tributaries before the storm was less than 25 cfs. The ground is saturated at this time. Much of Josephine County agriculture relies on spring rain. The three major irrigation districts in Jackson County are meeting to craft a letter to the county board of commissioners requesting a drought declaration.
In north central Oregon watermasters report that rain delayed the need to use stored water for a short time, and the Umatilla River flow has increased from 185 cfs on Friday to 2200 cfs on Monday. In the John Day Basin flows have risen rather dramatically and range from a low of 22 percent of average for Deer Creek near Izee to a high of 126 percent of normal for the North Fork John Day River near Monument. NRCS snowpack readings basin wide for the Upper John Day basin remain at 32 percent of average, so the recent rain was very appreciated. The timely rain has enhanced local stream flow and should help local agricultural crops get off to a good start. In the Hood River Basin the precipitation has helped ease the short term water situation. On 3-23-05, Hood River at Tucker Bridge was at 407 cfs. The mean for this date based on 44 years of record was 1,360 cfs, and on 3-28-05 the river improved to 2,190 cfs.
A drought meeting was held in Hood River at the Farmer´s Irrigation District Office. The turnout was high, with several growers in attendance in addition to representatives from Farmer´s ID, East Fork ID, Middle Fork ID, Mount Hood ID, Crystal Springs WD, Ice Fountain WD, City of Hood River, Hood River County Administrator, OSU Extension, Warm Springs Tribes, ODFW, SWCD, FSA and others. The purpose of the meeting was to share information as to what current conditions are, and what can be expected this summer. Another meeting is planned for April. Hood River County has submitted a request for a drought declaration which is scheduled to be reviewed by the Drought Council on 3-29. The City of The Dalles water supply reservoir is currently 75% full and filling at about 1 million gallons per day. Because inflow has been well below normal, the city is using a warm water well to supplement inflow to the reservoir.
In the Willamette Basin the rain improved conditions in the system of reservoirs that feed the Willamette River, but reservoir levels are still well below normal. In the Deschutes Basin the rain has delayed the need for stored water about a week.
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| March 23, 2005 |
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March 2005 - John Day River, mouse over photo for more info
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With above normal temperatures, and the knowledge that water will be short this summer, some irrigators are already contacting watermaster offices to ask for permission to start irrigation a month early. The Upper John Day Basin Watermaster reports this is happening in the Upper John Day Basin where current streamflow conditions range from 14% of normal in Deer Creek to 41% of normal in the South Fork John Day River (all near Izee). Irrigators are being told that water use outside the conditions of their permits, including time limits or season of use, is not discretionary.
In the Umatilla Basin the Watermaster reports flow in the Umatilla River at Pendleton is 179 cfs. Normally, this time of year, the flow level is expected to be about 1087 cfs. The mean average for March 2005 is the lowest of record. This water year, so far, is the third worst on record. Sufficient water will not be available to honor all requests, and the watermaster is currently honoring priority dates of 1905 and older. Flow in Butter Creek is less than 10 cfs. This flow level is similar to 1977 at this time of year.
The Josephine County watermaster reports dry land agriculture is having a difficult time seeding land because of the lack of soil moisture and the impact on seed germination, and there hasn´t been enough moisture to fertilize crops without irrigation.
In the Tualatin Basin the Watermaster reports sections of the Tualatin River, Gales Creek and the East Fork of Dairy Creek were all regulated to protect water rights. This is the first time that regulation has occurred in the pre-irrigation season period prior to May 1. Regulation normally begins in June or early July. Flow in the Tualatin River at Farmington is the lowest for this time of year since the Watermaster started keeping record in 1989.
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| March 21, 2005 |
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March 2005 - Willow Creek deemed unusable for water needs
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Water conditions in Oregon are close to those experienced in the 1977 drought. Snow conditions are approximately 44% of normal statewide, very close to that experienced before the 1977 drought and well below the levels seen in 2001 at this time of year. Precipitation records indicate that Northwest Oregon is experiencing the second driest water year on record and accumulated stream flow conditions statewide range in the 35-75 percentile level. As of March 1, the Columbia system is projected at 66% of normal stream flow, down 10% from a month earlier. Reservoirs used for irrigation throughout the state are well below normal and many are not expected to fill. Even if we have a significantly wet March, conditions are not expected to approach normal for this time of year.
The extremely dry conditions around the state have forced State Watermasters to start splitting available water supplies much earlier than normal. They are already regulating in some areas, and are expected to begin cutting off some water users 2 to 3 months earlier than normal. Many irrigators use water they normally store from winter runoff. With the low snow pack this year, irrigation reservoirs contain only about 50% of their normal supply. Water will be short for irrigators this season and it´s projected many farms will not have sufficient water for normal operation.
Oregon Water Availability Conditions
Conditions listed as percent of normal for February 1, except snowpack condition listed for 2/22/05
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Basin
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SWSI*
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Snowpack
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Reservoir
Content
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Accumulated
Precipitation
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Accumulated
Streamflow
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Forecasted
Streamflow
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Owyhee
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-1.2
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70%
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40%
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95%
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95%
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50%
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Malheur
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-1.7
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47%
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40%
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90%
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68%
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48%
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Grande Ronde,
Powder, Burnt
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-2.0
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46%
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54%
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70%
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74%
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57%
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Umatilla
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-1.3
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32%
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56%
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60%
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69%
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56%
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Upper John Day
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-0.9
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55%
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-
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70%
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51%
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49%
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Upper Deschutes
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-0.8
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52%
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92%
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65%
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51%
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55%
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Lower Deschutes
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-1.2
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22%
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-
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56%
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54%
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52%
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Willamette
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-1.0
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34%
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-
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57%
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50%
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62%
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Rogue
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-1.0
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44%
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88%
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74%
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50%
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68%
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Klamath
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-1.9
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50%
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30%
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80%
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67%
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65%
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Lake
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-0.9
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85%
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38%
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100%
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47%
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55%
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Harney
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-0.6
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57%
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-
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85%
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78%
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80%
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North Coast
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-0.7
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-
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-
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60%
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63%
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-
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South Coast
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0.0
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-
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-
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76%
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65%
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-
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* SWSI = Index of current water conditions around the state
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