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Rains ease drought in W. Oregon
Wednesday, April 20, 2005 | 2 comment(s)
PORTLAND (AP) - Although a wet spring has raised reservoir levels in the Willamette Valley, much of Oregon remains in a drought.
Through midnight Monday, Portland's rainfall for April stood at 2.58 inches, about an inch above average for the date. March had 3.77 inches of rain and was the first month in Portland with above-average rainfall since October 2004. At least a trace of rain fell in Portland on 32 of the past 34 days.
The rains brought four Willamette River Basin reservoirs to normal or above-normal levels, improving the outlook for fish migration, irrigation, power generation and recreation this spring and summer, officials said.
"Right now, when it comes to drought, the west side is OK, but the east side of the state is still pretty dry," said George Taylor, Oregon's climatologist and a member of the Oregon Drought Council.
Gov. Ted Kulongoski has declared a drought emergency for Crook, Gilliam, Hood River, Morrow, Sherman and Umatilla counties on the recommendation of the Oregon Drought Council, following five months of below-average rainfall and meager snowpacks. Earlier he declared drought emergencies in Baker County in Eastern Oregon and Klamath County in Southern Oregon.
The governor did not declare a statewide drought, which would allow farmers to tap emergency wells and authorize the state to limit nonessential use of water.
Through midnight Monday, Portland's rainfall for April stood at 2.58 inches, about an inch above average for the date. March had 3.77 inches of rain and was the first month in Portland with above-average rainfall since October 2004. At least a trace of rain fell in Portland on 32 of the past 34 days.
The rains brought four Willamette River Basin reservoirs to normal or above-normal levels, improving the outlook for fish migration, irrigation, power generation and recreation this spring and summer, officials said.
"Right now, when it comes to drought, the west side is OK, but the east side of the state is still pretty dry," said George Taylor, Oregon's climatologist and a member of the Oregon Drought Council.
Gov. Ted Kulongoski has declared a drought emergency for Crook, Gilliam, Hood River, Morrow, Sherman and Umatilla counties on the recommendation of the Oregon Drought Council, following five months of below-average rainfall and meager snowpacks. Earlier he declared drought emergencies in Baker County in Eastern Oregon and Klamath County in Southern Oregon.
The governor did not declare a statewide drought, which would allow farmers to tap emergency wells and authorize the state to limit nonessential use of water.
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