Lane County is joining the list of those asking the state for an emergency drought declaration. It's the first Western Oregon county to make the request this year.
Across much of Oregon, mountain peaks that would normally still be snow-covered are bare. Record low snowpack levels and recent high temperatures mean less water will come into streams across the state.
"What that means for Lane County is that our rivers are running lower than normal," said Linda Cook, emergency manager for Lane County. "It's creating a water management issue for our water resources department."
The drought declaration would benefit two companies that use water to mix cement: Delta Sand & Gravel and Knife River Corporation. Without enough water, the businesses would be forced to stop building. A drought declaration would help expedite the process of water rights transfers so construction could continue. In other Oregon counties, drought declarations primarily benefit irrigators and agricultural users.
Oregon Gov. Kate Brown has already declared drought emergencies in Baker, Crook, Harney, Klamath, Lake, Malheur and Wheeler counties. In addition to Lane, requests have also been submitted by Morrow, Umatilla, Grant, Deschutes and Josephine counties.
The state drought council will make a decision on those requests by the end of the week.
Cook says that there's no record of an emergency drought declaration in the history of Lane County. "This just very well may be the first time that Lane County has a drought declaration."
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