Lincoln County adopts emergency drought declaration after early low streamflows reported

The Lincoln County Board of Commissioners voted July 2 to approve a countywide emergency drought declaration after a drought committee convened earlier in June reported unseasonably low streamflows and requested earlier action to enable state-level emergency measures.

Commissioner Walter Chuck, who convened the drought committee, told the board the group — which included the Midcoast Water Conservation Consortium, Lincoln Soil and Water Conservation District, Oregon Water Resources Department and local city managers — had found stream levels ‘‘historically low’’ and recommended early action to allow the Oregon Water Resources Department time to process emergency water-right requests. Chuck moved the declaration; Commissioner Casey Miller seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

The declaration is voluntary and intended to increase public awareness and conservation; Chuck stressed the county does not have legal authority to order household use limits and that the declaration’s primary function is to coordinate outreach and to notify state agencies that the region is experiencing low flows. He said a brief rain event temporarily raised levels but flows returned to low conditions.

Why it matters: Declaring an emergency earlier in the season allows state officials to consider emergency water-right actions and provides a formal record so agencies and utilities can coordinate messaging and possible temporary measures. Chuck said the Oregon Water Resources Department’s emergency use process can take four to six weeks, and an earlier county declaration helps ensure steps can be completed before conditions worsen.

Next steps: Water Solutions and county emergency management will work with public information staff to produce outreach materials and to schedule follow-up committee meetings in three to four weeks or sooner if conditions change.