No drought declaration - yet

The status of a drought declaration for Jefferson County remains in limbo, as the decision was again pushed forward, stating the county did not currently meet drought requirements.

The state Drought Readiness Council and Oregon Water Supply Availability Committee reviewed the petitions for drought declaration submitted by the county on May 15, and determined that Jefferson County does not at this time meet the criteria for a drought declaration. A presentation on reservoir levels, rainfall, streamflow, and soil moisture provided recent data before the decision.

The drought board will continue to monitor the situation, and they will prepare another update on June 12.

The Governors’ office, Oregon Water Resources Dept., JCSO Emergency Mgmt. and others state they are committed to providing information to Jefferson County farmers and ranchers regarding requirements for counties to become eligible for federal aid for disasters related to drought.

Commissioner Kelly Simmelink joined the drought review meeting on May 15 via Zoom and said “I appreciate the process, and the level of data that is being presented. It is encouraging that the water supply is better, however it is still not half of what it should be on-farm. We will continue to advocate and support our farmers and ranchers here in Jefferson County and I do appreciate the assistance and efforts of the Governor, her office, and the departments.”