Agriculture accounts for 80 percent of Oregon's water consumption. But snowpack and glaciers have been diminishing and drought declarations are becoming routine.
Justin Much / Statesman Journal
The Marion County Board of Commissioners declared a drought emergency in the county Thursday. The board said it would request a state declaration from Gov. Kate Brown.
By the end of August, the Federal Drought Monitor had designated all of Marion County as being in either severe or extreme drought.
The board said in a release that local blueberry farmers asked for the declaration as they sought temporary water use permits to protect recently planted crops.
"Although it has been cooler lately, long term forecasts are for continued dry weather," Commissioner Janet Carlson, board chair, said in the release. "It seems prudent to provide our farmers as much flexibility as possible to temporarily adjust water rights to protect their crops."
County leaders said that most wheat and seed farmers have had a rough year, reporting a 20-40 percent decrease in yields.
If the state grants the request, Marion will become the 25th Oregon county to receive emergency status this year. More than 67 percent of the state is currently in extreme drought status, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.