River News - In The Media
KTVZ: Drought emergency declared in Oregon counties, 17 of 36 now affected
Governor Tina Kotek has declared a drought emergency for Douglas, Gilliam, Harney, Lake and Malheur counties in Oregon. This declaration brings the total number of Oregon counties under drought emergency status to 17 out of 36.
Capital Press: Environmental group sues to protect native Western ridged mussel
A federal lawsuit is pushing the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to decide whether Western ridged mussels need Endangered Species Act protection. Native to Columbia Basin rivers, the mussels depend on healthy streamflows and native fish populations, connecting their fate directly to DRC's restoration work in the Deschutes Basin, a sub-basin of the Columbia.
Bend Bulletin: Modern irrigation system helps Three Sisters Irrigation weather severe drought
With snowpack at 7% of normal, Three Sisters Irrigation District is leaning on its modern pipe system to manage a critically short water year but officials say infrastructure improvements can't fully offset the drought.
Bend Bulletin: ‘The worst drought on record:’ Deschutes County declares emergency
Deschutes County has declared a drought emergency for the fifth time in six years, citing record-low snowpack at around 30% of normal. The declaration — requiring Governor Kotek's approval — aims to unlock state aid as officials warn of severe water curtailments, low river flows, and major impacts to agriculture, recreation, and natural resources.
Bend Bulletin: Oregon’s ‘terrible’ snowpack could lead to early irrigation season
Oregon's snowpack hit its second-lowest level on record as of March 2, 2026, raising concerns about drought, wildfires, and early water shortages heading into summer — particularly for irrigation-dependent regions like Central Oregon and the Klamath Basin.
Bend Bulletin: Tribes turn to beaver-inspired dams to revive Central Oregon streams
The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs are using low-cost wooden structures called beaver dam analogs to restore degraded waterways on the reservation, slow water loss, rebuild wetlands, and improve cold-water habitat for salmon and steelhead.
Bend Bulletin: Oregon snowpack at record low as Northwest faces deepening snow drought
A deepening snow drought has pushed Oregon’s snowpack to historic lows, with similar challenges unfolding across the Pacific Northwest. Warm winters are shrinking our natural water storage system, increasing risks to streamflows, agriculture, and wildfire resilience. It’s a stark reminder that proactive, basin-wide water solutions are more critical than ever.
