Drought

Southern California growers agreed to use less water through 2026 and receive federal funds in return. But it’s not a long-term solution to the Colorado River’s water woes.

A heat wave will bring temperatures in the 90s to the Willamette Valley and other parts of the state later this week

During the final statewide snow survey of the year, researchers at Phillips Station near Lake Tahoe recorded a snow depth of nearly five feet. That’s 241% of the May 1 average for this area.

Dozens of atmospheric rivers hit the West Coast this winter and California snowpack levels are soaring.

Research links cedar death to climate, details which trees are dying, which are surviving and shows how the species might be saved

Even with all the rain and snow in California this winter, it’s been pretty dry in our region, especially in much of eastern Oregon and parts of eastern Washington. For wheat farmers, that means there could be some nail-biting months ahead.

California has two seemingly contradictory and potentially devastating problems:We have more water than we know what to do with — and more is on the way.We still don’t have nearly enough.

Despite a parade of winter storms in Southern Oregon in recent weeks, hydrologists say it’s not enough to undo the effects of multiple years of drought.

Californians have seen several rounds of bitter winter storms pummel the state since late December. Though those storms have led to flooding, blizzards and landslides, they've also brought much-needed rain and snow to a state plagued by persistent drought.

January’s rains flooded farm fields and orchards. Many California farmworkers lost weeks of pay. Advocates say the state should help them weather such crises. A leading proposal would pay $300 a week to undocumented workers.

The permits, also called Emergency Use permits, allow users like farmers and ranchers who don’t have groundwater rights to access that water during an emergency drought declaration when above-ground sources, like rivers and lakes, are too low.

Communities still have dry wells. Restoring groundwater takes decades, with costly, long-term replenishment projects — and ultimately, much less pumping.