Jefferson County is facing one of its driest years on record, and state and local officials are warning that the consequences will be felt across agriculture, wildfire risk, and municipal water supplies well into fall.

The Drought Emergency Declaration

Governor Tina Kotek declared a drought emergency in Jefferson County on April 23, 2026, through Executive Order 26-07. The declaration also covered Crook, Grant, Jackson, Morrow, and Wallowa counties — making it one of the broadest multi-county drought declarations in recent Oregon history. All Central Oregon counties are now under some form of drought emergency status.

The governor directed state agencies to coordinate and prioritize assistance to affected regions, including help for irrigators, livestock operators, and municipalities dealing with reduced water supplies.

What's Driving It

This winter's snowpack across the Oregon Cascades was historically low — some monitoring sites recorded the lowest snowpack since record-keeping began. A warm, dry spring accelerated snowmelt and failed to replenish soil moisture. The result: rivers and reservoirs are running well below normal levels heading into the peak irrigation season.

The drought has been compounded by an early-arriving heat pattern. Forecasters with AccuWeather and the National Interagency Fire Center are projecting an above-normal wildfire season for the region, with dry fuels, low relative humidity, and the possibility of an early El Niño pattern extending dangerous conditions into October.

Impacts on Agriculture

Jefferson County's economy is built substantially on agriculture — wheat, grass seed, hay, mint, and irrigated row crops all depend on reliable water supplies. Irrigators drawing from the Deschutes River and its tributaries have faced reduced allocations, and some junior water rights holders may face curtailments as the season progresses.

Ranchers who rely on pasture are facing difficult decisions about livestock numbers heading into summer, with hay prices elevated and grazing conditions poor.

What Residents Can Do

  • Reduce outdoor water use, especially lawn irrigation during peak afternoon heat
  • Report illegal water diversions to the Oregon Water Resources Department
  • Check on elderly and vulnerable neighbors during heat events
  • Stay current on fire restrictions — open burning is currently prohibited in Jefferson County
  • Monitor wildfire alerts through KWSO 91.9 FM, Watch Duty, and Jefferson County Emergency Management

The drought emergency declaration opens the door to state assistance programs, but the conditions driving it — low snowpack, rising temperatures, and persistent dryness — are not going away soon. Jefferson County's agricultural producers, water managers, and emergency responders are all navigating this season carefully.