Rain
- Thread starter Stonedfish
- Start date
Deschutes County has declared a state of drought emergency for the fifth time in the last six years. The measure was taken so that county residents can tap into state funds to alleviate the financial burden brought on by the abnormally dry conditions. In a resolution posted last month and signed by commissioners Tony DeBone and Phil Chang, the county announced a drought emergency that is endangering crops and livestock, while also threatening natural resources, recreation and tourism.
“I think it will be the worst drought on record,” said Craig Horrell, general manager of Central Oregon Irrigation District, the largest district in the county. Patrons will likely see water curtailed from normal amounts, he said. The declaration notes that Deschutes County has record low snowpack — around 30% of normal — and most of the county is experiencing “abnormally dry conditions,” according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. Area rivers are also running lower than normal. “The Deschutes River is experiencing extremely low natural flow levels such that all irrigation districts dependent on water flows from the Deschutes River will be severely impacted … due to diminished supplies,” read the declaration.
Read more at: https://bendbulletin.com/2026/03/12...res-drought-emergency-irrigation-cuts-likely/
“I think it will be the worst drought on record,” said Craig Horrell, general manager of Central Oregon Irrigation District, the largest district in the county. Patrons will likely see water curtailed from normal amounts, he said. The declaration notes that Deschutes County has record low snowpack — around 30% of normal — and most of the county is experiencing “abnormally dry conditions,” according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. Area rivers are also running lower than normal. “The Deschutes River is experiencing extremely low natural flow levels such that all irrigation districts dependent on water flows from the Deschutes River will be severely impacted … due to diminished supplies,” read the declaration.
Read more at: https://bendbulletin.com/2026/03/12...res-drought-emergency-irrigation-cuts-likely/
Not working that way here unfortunately. There's enough melting that Waitsburg and Datyon are flooded, Hwy 12 in between is closed, and a bunch of county roads, including to the ski hill and also into the Tucannon lakes. Son's employee had to sandbag his place and we couldn't get there to help. The Mill Creek flood bypass is running water into Bennington to avert flooding. Quite a mess.
Tough news. High Desert Blues! Maybe they should reduce irrigation canal flows big time.
Dates of on station... but this was yesterday
If this is the new normal, it will produce a serious change in the Deschutes economy.
Current Mt. Bachelor is the second largest employer in the county behind St. Charles hospital, its visitors drive an estimated 220M in revenue through lodging, restaurants, services, etc.
Whereas irrigated land generates around 40M a year with the bulk of that revenue being banked, fishing revenue in Deschutes county is estimated around 34M going to lodging, restaurants, services, etc.
With the current Bend population of 109,000 projected to grow to 160,000 by 2050, it will require tapping the massive underground aquifer beneath the Cascades at a cost of hundreds of millions, to supplement the Bend Municipal Watershed which is dependent on annual snow melt.
Irrigated land tapping the local rivers will be the inevitable losers in all this, as regardless of rancher lobbying such matters will end up on the ballot.
This is not unique to Deschutes, regions throughout OR and WA are dealing with similar issues as the climate changes. And exacerbating the problem are the build-out of enormous data centers which use massive amounts of water for cooling. Just ask the residents of Boardman OR:
'Since 2011, over 30 data centers in Boardman, Oregon, have significantly strained local water supplies and exacerbated a long-term pollution crisis. These facilities use over a million gallons of water monthly for cooling, contributing to contaminated wastewater that increases nitrate levels in groundwater. The rapid growth also raises concerns regarding high electricity usage and potential air/noise pollution.'
Current Mt. Bachelor is the second largest employer in the county behind St. Charles hospital, its visitors drive an estimated 220M in revenue through lodging, restaurants, services, etc.
Whereas irrigated land generates around 40M a year with the bulk of that revenue being banked, fishing revenue in Deschutes county is estimated around 34M going to lodging, restaurants, services, etc.
With the current Bend population of 109,000 projected to grow to 160,000 by 2050, it will require tapping the massive underground aquifer beneath the Cascades at a cost of hundreds of millions, to supplement the Bend Municipal Watershed which is dependent on annual snow melt.
Irrigated land tapping the local rivers will be the inevitable losers in all this, as regardless of rancher lobbying such matters will end up on the ballot.
This is not unique to Deschutes, regions throughout OR and WA are dealing with similar issues as the climate changes. And exacerbating the problem are the build-out of enormous data centers which use massive amounts of water for cooling. Just ask the residents of Boardman OR:
'Since 2011, over 30 data centers in Boardman, Oregon, have significantly strained local water supplies and exacerbated a long-term pollution crisis. These facilities use over a million gallons of water monthly for cooling, contributing to contaminated wastewater that increases nitrate levels in groundwater. The rapid growth also raises concerns regarding high electricity usage and potential air/noise pollution.'
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Well, that snow level sucks! I keep seeing stuff about potential flooding on west side rivers.
SF
SF
Oh shit, this sucks.
That is normally a small 20 ft wide section of the river. Must not have been tied to the trailer where it was parked. That river system has experienced significant flood events numerous times in my lifetime.
Wayne Kohan
Life of the Party
I was wondering why that boat would be on that river, really makes no sense.
It rained hard here this morning but not much since. I’m seeing photos of flooding on the Snohomish. Some of his has got to be the warmer temps doing a number on the big snows we had last week.
SF