Three counties in drought emergency
Gov. John Kitzhaber has declared drought emergencies in Klamath, Lake, Harney, and Malheur counties.
Three counties in drought emergency Gov. John Kitzhaber has declared drought emergencies in Klamath, Lake, Harney, and Malheur counties. Check out this story on statesmanjournal.com: http://stjr.nl/1b5a1Vi
SAL Published 9:00 p.m. PT Feb. 14, 2014 | Updated 9:13 p.m. PT Feb. 14, 2014
The four Southern Oregon counties border and share basins with California, which is experiencing one of its worst droughts in recorded history.
"We are already seeing the effects of the ongoing and prolonged drought in southern Oregon counties, with snowpack in the Klamath Basin only 20 percent of normal," Kitzhaber said. "Irrigators, ranchers, fisheries, and communities are under severe stress from both water shortages and the risk of wildfires on top of last season's record conditions. I am taking early and fast action to put all possible tools at the disposal of Oregon communities and businesses."
County commissioners in each of the four counties recently declared drought emergencies requesting state assistance.
The Oregon Drought Council met last week to make recommendations to Kitzhaber on drought declarations.
The governor's action will allow increased flexibility in how water is managed to ensure that limited supplies are used as efficiently as possible.
Kithzaber also is working with Oregon's federal delegation, state agencies, local governments, and other partners to coordinate efforts and mobilize actions to address drought-related issues.
Passage of the federal Farm Bill will make more resources available to affected farmers and ranchers, and emergency drought legislation co-sponsored by Oregon Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley would provide additional resources for emergency relief.
"The unusual act of declaring a drought emergency in the middle of February is an indication of how severe the conditions are in southern Oregon and of the hardships being faced by communities throughout the region," Wyden said. "In the absence of a significant increase in rain and snowfall, it is vital that the state, federal, and local governments, along with water users, work together on the appropriate allocation of what water there is. This declaration will help achieve that."
"Even though the state has seen snow and rain during the last week, Oregon still is experiencing a terrible drought, especially in southern and eastern Oregon," Merkley said.
The federal drought relief legislation will help farmers, businesses and communities in Oregon and California. The legislation establishes emergency provisions to assist drought-affected areas and $300 million in emergency assistance.
tloew@StatesmanJournal.com, (503) 399-6779 or follow at Twitter.com/SJWatchdog
Read the executive order at http://www.oregon.gov/gov /docs/executive_orders/eo_14_01.pdf
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