For Jefferson County farmers who depend on irrigation water to grow hay, mint, potatoes, and other crops, the summer of 2026 has been one of the most difficult in memory. A historically low snowpack in the upper Deschutes Basin — the result of an exceptionally warm winter and years of below-average precipitation — has translated into sharply reduced water supplies at the worst possible time of year.
Record Low Snowpack
Oregon water officials have described 2026 as a potential once-in-a-generation drought year. The Oregon Water Resources Department noted that conditions are similar to 2015, when a snow drought led to drought declarations in 25 of Oregon's 36 counties. This year's snowpack was among the lowest ever recorded in the upper Deschutes Basin, which supplies the rivers and reservoirs that feed Central Oregon's network of irrigation canals.
The consequences have cascaded through the agricultural economy throughout the summer. In July, the Arnold Irrigation District — which serves farmland south and east of Bend — announced it had completely shut off water deliveries due to the historic drought, leaving irrigators without water during peak growing season.
Impact on Jefferson County
While Jefferson County's primary irrigation districts have not completely curtailed deliveries, farmers throughout the county have been operating with reduced allocations and growing uncertainty about supply as the summer progresses. Water in Central Oregon is distributed under a complex system of senior and junior water rights, meaning that during shortage years, holders of older, more senior rights receive their full allocation first — sometimes leaving junior rights holders with little or nothing.
Ranchers and hay producers in Jefferson County, many of whom depend on late-summer irrigation to support a second or third cutting of hay, are watching their fields closely. Any further reduction in water availability could affect both this year's harvest and the supply of winter livestock feed heading into fall.
Wells Going Dry
The drought has also affected groundwater supplies. Reporting from High Country News and ProPublica has documented nearly 1,000 Oregon wells going dry statewide, and springs that feed the Deschutes River are flowing at some of their lowest recorded levels. Rural Jefferson County residents who rely on private wells are encouraged to have their water levels checked and to conserve use where possible.
What's Ahead
With temperatures expected to remain above average through August and minimal precipitation in the forecast, conditions are unlikely to improve before irrigation season winds down in the fall. County Extension Service and Oregon State University resources are available for farmers navigating the drought. The Oregon Water Resources Department maintains an updated drought status page at oregon.gov/owrd.
Farmers or ranchers dealing with drought-related losses may also want to contact the USDA Farm Service Agency office in Madras to inquire about disaster assistance programs.