My roommate, who’s an avid skier, fervently checked snow predictions for Willamette Pass over winter term, and always ended up disappointed with the lack of snow. Her ski gear, which she covets dearly, could only be used on slushy conditions.
Last winter was the highest temperature recorded, with an average of 7 degrees above normal for the state. The precipitation that fell was mostly rain, instead of snow up in the mountains. Mountain snow is crucial for Oregon, since it acts as a natural reservoir and slowly releases a steady stream of water through the spring and summer; meltwater is essential for downstream ecosystems, and those within valleys, providing up to 75% of the water supply in the Pacific Northwest.
“Right now, our snow pack is about the worst it’s ever been measured in our state’s recorded history, which has gone back to before 1981. The previous year in which we had a snow pack that was this low was in 2015, and during that spring and summer, most counties declared a drought emergency. We had a lot of water shortages, especially for irrigation, agriculture and livestock,” Larry O’Neill, the state climatologist of Oregon, said. O’Neill is also an associate professor at Oregon State and director of the Oregon Climate Service.
O’Neill mentioned that climate change and climate variability has had detrimental effects on fish populations, especially salmon that run through the corridors around rivers, which are at increased risk due to water shortages. Another issue is that the lack of water can interfere with wildfire prevention and having the proper resources to fight them once they have started.
“Drought emergencies unlock a variety of tools and resources that individual jurisdictions, like counties, can use to basically prepare and deal with a drought that is coming this summer,” O’Neill said, when asked about potential solutions for addressing the ongoing water crisis.
Drought emergencies are an official declaration that are made by government officials, such as county commissioners, and then approved by the governor to officially indicate that water supplies have fallen significantly below normal levels and are causing threats to agriculture or safety.
Considering the historical lows of water reservoirs from the snow packs, Lane County needs to take a proactive approach to addressing the wildfire season, and consider declaring a drought emergency.
“For Oregon, there are statutes in our state legislation that will allow the transfers of water rights and easing of water restrictions, and allow you to pump water from a well or transfer water rights,” O’Neill said. Water transfers allow temporary transfers, leases or adjustments of water usage to address critical needs.
As of May 2026, 12 of Oregon’s 36 counties have declared a drought emergency, having received approval from Governor Tina Kotek. A third of all Oregon counties have now been designated under this status.
The Lane Country Commissioners need to come together and advocate for getting Lane County designated as a drought emergent county, and allow for increased water transfers and preparatory measures. Climatologists and forecasters predict a busy wildfire season, with the risk of wildfires occurring earlier in the year. We need to declare a drought emergency before it’s too late to take preparatory measures within the county.
