The euphemism "D word" went out of favor early in this calendar year.
Public officials and water managers just came right out and said "drought" when it became clear the winter would not deliver the usual amount of snow and rain.
California's governor made his drought declaration before the end of January, and efforts to conserve water have been widespread.
The City of Ashland is one of several jurisdictions making special moves to encourage conservation.
Those include the hosting of a Drought Summit, coming to the Southern Oregon University campus in mid-August.
We hear drought updates and strategies from our studio guests.