Governor Tina Kotek has signed Executive Order 24-29, declaring a state of emergency in Wallowa County in response to ongoing severe drought conditions.
The declaration aims to mitigate the impact of water scarcity, which has become a pressing issue in Oregon due to climate change, with the Governor noting that water scarcity has become the new normal.
Wallowa County has faced an imbalance in water conditions for over four years, as indicated by the Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index SPEI.
The area has experienced higher temperatures and lower precipitation levels, severely affecting agriculture and public water uses. The declaration follows a request from the Wallowa County Board of Commissioners to the Oregon Drought Readiness Council, which recommended the emergency measure after reviewing local water supply conditions.
This state of emergency allows the Oregon Water Resources Department and other agencies to expedite procedures and reduce fees for local water users in need of assistance.
This is Governor Kotek’s third drought-related declaration this year, highlighting the increasing frequency and severity of drought in the region.
Various state agencies, including the Oregon Department of Emergency Management, will monitor the situation closely and implement comprehensive strategies to address these environmental challenges.