Oviatt Extremely Concerned About The 2022 Irrigation Season

According to Scott Oviatt with NRCS-Oregon, the snowpack across the Beaver state is not looking good for this time of year. The statewide snowpack average is currently 80% of normal. Oviatt says while the state has not seen a massive loss of snowpack, the snowpack hasn’t made any gains either.

“What storms we’ve had have been a combination of lower elevation rain, higher elevation rain in some cases and just not the snow accumulation, it just hasn’t been cold enough, and when it has been it’s only been in the higher elevations. Locations about 5,500’ in most of Oregon.”

When it comes to the irrigation season ahead, Oviatt says he is extremely concerned. He noted it very unlikely at this point, due to the lateness of the season, that the state will make up any deficits in the snowpack.

“I fully anticipate irrigation water shortages surface water shortages in terms of in stream flows.  So a combination of things that folks need to be prepared and start to plan accordingly, because we’re not going to have sufficient runoff to support all the normal activities we normally do.” 

Oviatt added he does not anticipate Oregon getting out of drought in 2022.

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