© 2024 KLCC

KLCC
136 W 8th Ave
Eugene OR 97401
541-463-6000
klcc@klcc.org

Contact Us

FCC Applications
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Talk Of Drought Quiet This Year Among Oregon Farmers

Jamie Francis/The OregonianPivot

State water supply levels have Oregon farmers optimistic this year. Last April, mountain snowpack and reservoir levels were much lower than average. This year, talk of drought is somewhat quiet.

The U.S. Drought Monitor says there are no longer any areas of extreme drought in Oregon. The worst case scenario would be a warm spring causing snowpack to melt faster. State water levels are adequate for irrigation purposes right now after heavy rainfall in January and February. About 8 percent of the state, primarily in the southeast, remains in extreme drought conditions. Oregon Department of Agriculture Specialist Margaret Matter says even though conditions have improved, things could be worse by the end of the summer.

Matter: “When it all shakes out, streamflows may not be quite as high as we had predicted just because the sub-surface and groundwater are so depleted after so many years of dry condition. There just has not been the natural recharge.”

Matter says stream-flow output seems to be looking at or above normal, but not in all areas. The Klamath and Umatilla areas have reported lower levels.

copyright, 2016 KLCC