Drought and Water

Oregon’s Department of Forestry has revised its timeline for re-releasing its Wildfire Risk Map.  ODF’s Derek Gasperini said a new draft is now due March 1st, following more public engagement and outreach.   “It would be easy for us to just make a few adjustments to the map and issue it again. But, we want to be able to make...

The Farmers Conservation Alliance was recently awarded $120,000 from Google to better manage data, as they help 40 different irrigation communities in the west learn to better manage their water.   “When you think about working with each of those communities and looking at infrastructure that’s a significant part of rural communities, you just have a lot of information that you’re managing."

Central Oregon Irrigation District has announced that it will continue to run at the current delivery rate until October 1st; at that time, deliveries drop to season five flows .  When it comes to the last day of the season, October 13th has been set as the final shut off date for the Central Oregon Canal (service area east side of Bend/Alfalfa/Powell Butte), while October 14th will be the last da

A recent report issued by Washington Governor Jay Inslee and senator Patty Murray attempted to answer questions about the economic impact to SE Washington and beyond if the Snake River dams were removed.  However, according to Darryll Olsen with the Columbia Snake River Irrigators Association, the report offered very few answers and did not clear up confusion between the two sides of the argument.

Plans to remove four Pacific Corps hydro-electric dams in the lower Klamath River made a big step Friday.  Pacific Powers’ Tom Gauntt said the environmental impact statement released by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission provides guidance for the future.   “It sp...

The Klamath Irrigation District in Southern Oregon plans to defy a U.S. government order issued last week for a halt to water deliveries to farmers in the drought-stricken basin.  The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation manages the Klamath Project, which includes Klamath Irrigation District and serves 266 square miles of farmland around the Oregon-California border.  A ...

As combines roll across Idaho, how is this year’s wheat crop fairing?   Casey Chumrau, Executive Director of Idaho Wheat said the 2022 crop is a little more variable than anticipated earlier this year.  She noted harvest started later than anticipated thanks to the cool, wet spring, meaning some operations are 1-3 weeks behind schedule.   “We are pre...

Back in June, the American Farm Bureau Federation distributed its third drought impact survey to members in 15 western states.  Danny Munch, AFBF economist, said the survey looked at a variety of demographics, including crop and livestock factors, as well as access to water, and what farmers are doing to cope with drought.  Th...

Oregon’s State Fire Marshal’s Office is taking public feedback as the agency develops new statewide code for defensible space.  OSFM’s Allison Green said they’ve heard concerns from farmers and ranchers in areas that might be considered at high or extreme risk for wildfires, which would trigger potential future code enforcement.   “We have folks here...

"Unfortunately not unexpected, but if you look at the map of wildfires current in the Northwest, extending from northern California through Oregon, Washington and then eastward through Idaho into western Montana, there are a number of large wildfires on the map...