It was a lean winter for snowpack, and an even leaner spring for rain. Now, deep in July, the consequences are being felt in the fields and pastures of Jefferson County as a stubborn, worsening drought tightens its grip on Central Oregon agriculture.

State water managers have warned that 2026 is shaping up to be one of the more difficult irrigation seasons in recent memory. The Oregon Water Resources Department has cautioned water users statewide to prepare for possible reductions, noting that “regulation of water rights is likely to affect older priority dates than normal — meaning that water users who aren’t typically regulated in a normal year may be regulated back or off.”

Junior Rights Already Being Curtailed

Across Central Oregon, some irrigation districts have already begun curtailing junior water rights — a step that water managers say is happening for what they believe is the first time in those districts. Crescent Lake, which supplies irrigation water to farms in the region, is on pace to end the season at its lowest level since the 1990s. Water deliveries from that reservoir to dependent farms are expected to stop by mid-August.

The Central Oregon Irrigation District (COID), which serves the Bend–Redmond corridor and surrounding agricultural lands, has advised users that while formal restrictions may not be in place for all users, growers should plan now for potential shortages.

“If you are not using all of your water right, please notify your district office to ensure the water is managed to benefit agricultural demands,” COID has advised on its website. “We recommend you begin planning now for potential water supply shortages this summer.”

What This Means for Jefferson County

Jefferson County’s high desert climate makes it perpetually dependent on irrigation for farming and ranching viability. From the hay fields and cattle operations east of Madras to the specialty crop producers along the river benches, most local growers rely on surface water deliveries to make their seasons work.

In a drought year like this one, the calculus becomes difficult. Growers with senior water rights may still receive their full allocations, but those holding junior rights — particularly those whose rights were established more recently — could face partial or full shutoffs during peak demand weeks in August.

Ranchers with livestock face an added layer of pressure: dry pastures mean supplemental hay purchases become necessary earlier in the season, driving up costs at the same moment that feed supplies may also be tightening region-wide.

Drought Declaration as a Tool

Oregon counties can request a drought declaration from the governor, which unlocks emergency water rights tools — including the ability for water right holders to temporarily switch water sources or access emergency conservation programs. Jefferson County residents and agricultural groups with concerns about the season are encouraged to contact the Oregon Water Resources Department or their local irrigation district to understand their options before curtailments become mandatory.

The Oregon Water Resources Department maintains a drought dashboard at oregon.gov/owrd, updated regularly with basin-by-basin conditions, current declarations, and conservation guidance.

The Bigger Picture

The 2026 drought is unfolding against a backdrop of long-term aridification trends in the Pacific Northwest. Water managers, farmers, and tribal water rights holders in Jefferson County have all navigated dry years before — but the compounding pressure of low snowpack, hot summers, and growing demand makes each new drought season a test of the region’s resilience.

For Jefferson County farmers navigating this season, the message from water managers is consistent: communicate early, conserve where possible, and don’t wait until the well runs dry to start planning.