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Home My WebLink About2021-11-12 Gould Drought Conditions with Exhibits 1-3November 12, 2021 . 247 -21-000508-SP, 849-4; 247 -21-000553-MC, 920-A Drought conditions in Deschutes County have exacerbated since 2005 culminating in the following conditions as of Nov 9,2021'. D0 - Abnormally Dry (Yellow) RECEIVED Ski Season is impacted il{OV I 2 2CI21 D1 - Moderate Drought (Tan) Deschutes county cDD Some fields are left fallow Water levels begin to decline; recreation and other uses are impacted D2 - Severe Drought (Orange) Pastures are brown; hay yields are down, and prices are up; producers are selling cattle Fire Risk lncreases Marshes are drying up; little water is available for waterfowl and wildlife; bears are moving into urban areas D3 - Extreme Drought (Red) Planting is delayed Wibfire activity is high Reservoirs and lakes arev4ry low compared to normal; irrigation water is scarce D4 - Exceptional Drought (Burgandy) Power generation is reduced Deschutes County statistics 100% of Deschutes County is in D0-D4 1o0o/o of Deschutes County is in D1-D4 100% of Deschutes County is in D2-D4 82.83/o of Deschutes County is in D3-D4 56.440/o of Deschutes County is in D4 T Source NDMC, NOAA, UsDAsource Nov 9, 2021 eR 157,733 People in Deschutes County are affected by drought \F 100% of people in Deschutes County are affected by drought 5< As of Nov 9,2021 Deschutes County is 5.51 inches BELOW normal precipitation which is the 9th driest year to date in 127 years. Since the CMP and FMP approvals of Thornburgh Resort, Glimate Change conditions have worsened in Deschutes County and are adversely impacting our community, farmers, river stewards and recreationists. Current DROUGHT conditions in Deschutes County are shown in Exhibit 1, Exhibit 2 from November 2021. The proposed Thornburgh Resort is located in EXTREME DROUGHT conditions today. ln summer 2021 Governor Brown issued a Drought Declaration for Deschutes County that runs thru December 31 ,2021. Exhibit 3. As a background the USGS identified that surface water and groundwater are hydrologically connected in the Deschutes Basin. This finding is the originator of the Deschutes Basin Groundwater Mitigation Rules. Unlike any other resort, historic resort or Goal 8 Destination resort in Deschutes County, the Thornburgh Resort's proposed groundwater withdrawal was modeled by physically running the USGS model by Mr. Yinger and associates See Exhibit 4 Yinger Report with his 2 memos from years 2008. The actual running of the model brought to light the adverse impacts on wildlife habitat specifically that of fish habitat and on cold water springs in Whychus Creek formerly Squaw Creek and in the Middle Deschutes River, a Federally designated Wild and Scenic River. Both rivers have protected steelhead and protected bulltrout and native redound trout. The Deschutes County's Destination Resort code contains a no nett loss of fish and wildlife habitat standard. So the Thornburgh Resort modified it's Wildlife Habitat plan to include a Fish and Wildlife Habitat addendum plan that proposed mitigating for the wildlife habitat impacts from groundwater withdrawal by identifying additional water to for the adverse impacts at springs in Whychus Creek and in the Middle Deschutes River. These additional waters such as The Deep Canyon Creek Spring water and the 106 acre feet of Three Sisters lrrigation District (TSID) conserved water were identified as possibilities. These waters were to be placed permanently in stream for the benefit of fish and fish habitat. However with changed circumstances not allowing conserved water from piping to be used for fish habitat mitigation as well as drought and moving of water to Big Falls Ranch wells; it is clear that the TBR has not placed any fish mitigation water permanently in either the Middle Deschutes River or in Whychus Creek. The USGS model does not account for Climate Change and so related concerns by ODFW as recently as early November 2021 as well as from area citizens are tied to the changed conditions since the CMP and FMP were outlined. We are now living the new climate change reality with all of Deschutes County. Farmers nearby have had to cut farms to 60% water or have had to go on a water rationing of 50% water. As of Nov 9,2021 all of Deschutes County is in at least SEVERE DROUGHT D0, D1, D2; and 82.83/" of Deschutes County is in EXTREME DROUGHT D3 and 56.440/o of Deschutes County is in EXCEPTIONAL DROUGHT D4. The site of the Thornburgh Resort is in EXTREME DROUGHT. Drought also bring with it cutting of electrical power in D4 conditions. Drought brings with it FIRE RISK. Oregon and California have witnessed examples of this in the last few years. So of utmost public health concern is where homes and/or tourist oriented overnight lodging units are placed given this EXTREME DROUGHT we are now in here in Deschutes County. Also of utmost concern is where permanent fish mitigation waters will come in the face of our EXTREME DROUGHT. Assuming that the water is there is not a valid assumption. The phasing requires the resort to show it has in hand groundwater mitigation as well as fish mitigation and the time is now. Not sometime into the future. Furthermore, there is nothing DISCRETE about what this resort wants TODAY. Thornburgh Resort could have joined others when their OLU ratios were changed; but Thornburgh resort did no such thing. lnstead Thornburgh Resort wants this Hearings Officer to believe and trust that it is only wanting to reduce overnight lodging, and not add more homes whilst it requests to amend the CMP and the FMP to change the overnight lodging ratio from 2.0 homes : 1 overnight to 2.5 homes : 1 overnight. The nett effect of this BIG ASK is25 "/" more homes and 20 % less overnights. Thornburgh would have you believe that there is an "effective overnight lodging units monitoring program". The truth is quite the opposite. There has been no time that Deschutes County has received any DR overnight lodging report on time needless to say that the County's monitoring program is effective. By keeping the 2:0 ratio it's simpler math. Even those who purport challenged with math can divide or multiply by 2. Let keep it simple and have this resort perform to the commitment under CMP and FMP before it's changed to something Deschutes County REALLY won't know how to 'manage'. Thornburgh resort has suffered staying steady and conforming to committments. There is no cattle guard on it's ROW across BLM at Cline Falls Highway, there is no sediment fence along the entire length of it's BLM ROW it is using areas of BLM land that are not included in it's ROW construction road... every one of the things is a deviation from the agreement. At this time, Thornburgh Resort has neither water nor back up power plan at it's site. Now water has been protected instream permanently for fish habitat. With today's drought conditions, it is unwise to approve any changes to it's overnight lodging ratio especially where single family homes are on larger water guzzling lots than overnight lodging units with their lockout units meaning 1 building can count toward 1-3 olu's. ln the face of Climate Change, it is both imprudent to place more development in DROUGHT stricken lands far from a response time of our fire departments. Thank Nunzie Gould &" 9-(-zl -oooSS3-hq ; 3 zo-A Z1 l- zl -oooSo8- t? :A L\1-A Current Conditions for Deschutes County: U.5. Drought e NIDIS itor ffi f,J Monum Foresl John Fossrt Fremont Natlonal ::i U.S. Drought Monitor for Deschutes County (D0)Abnormalty (D1) Moderate Dry: 100.000/o Drought: 100.000/o (D2) Severe Drought: 100.00o/o (D3) Extreme Drought: 82.83o/o (D4) ExceptionaI Drought: 56.440/o ::,i.: t.i I r :r, i :. I : ld i : i:'? i., t4i..: it,i:'r, I i i: i:ri\ i 3 1.; r-i i,i 1.1'l'iui,r t-: ii ly' .i. i. I r;;<;; 1';;.; 'THE uo cAT t o n/ Efr R€t'4€ o F THE TBR' 9wE ts tN DR.ouG r-\T Er6,L"rb,? I e{-1-Zl - ooo 55?-PI('z SIE-.SFeq1- zl - oo o q ao-A i 6t/q -Abe-scl,.,^ .k-r G.r^"\ AJoV z zozlThe U.S. Drought Monitor {USDM} is a national map released every Thursday, showing parts of the U.S. that are in drought. The USDM relieson drought experts to synthesize the best avaitable data and work with [ocal observers to interpret the information. The USDM alsoincorporates ground truthing and information about how drought is affecting people, via a network of more than 450 observers across thecountry, inctuding state ctimatologists, NationalWeather Service staff, Fxtension agents, and hydrotogists. Learn more.2000- PresentLatest Avai lable Data:?021-11-02100%90%8Qo/a70%60%5lo/o40o/o30%20%10%Oo/oTime Period (Years):to2004@IoolDlIDzIoslo+Cfick or haver cn Jegrend hoxes fo inferacf wfh tfieAbno rwr a,\tct )cq DoH ode-.Jale- ' Drofuvesv >tt'$uf"-{*irrnuu b.o '''5Excelrliona/'-graph",,."f>cw'x\,,trwExh;t"i v 7 Otficeof theGovernor State of Oregon NXECUTIVE ORJ}ER NO. 21.20 DIRECTING STATE AGENCIES TO SUPPORT COMMUNITIES IN DROUGIIT BY CURTAILING NONESSENTIAL WATER USE, IMPLEMENTING WATER CONSERVATION MEASURES, AND EN COURAGING DROU GIIT RSSILIENCY Oregon and the American West face an unprecedented drought. Drought threatens community health and well-being, economies, ecosystems, and quality of life. Oregon has a strong history of managing and caring for water to meet both instream and out-of-stream needs. but climate change and chronic drought require water conservation and a commitment to working together. As of July 4,2021, every Oregon county east of the Cascades has declared drought, and the entire state is in some category of abnormal dryness according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. Record-breaking low snowpack levels, high temperatures, and significantly low stream flows are present in many parts of the state. Drought has many effects, including: severe water reductions for irrigated agriculture; reduced forage for grazing; water restrictions or shortages in communities with limited supplies; low reservoir levels that limit or prevent recreational activities, low stream flows and high water temperatures that harm fish and restrict angling and other river uses; reduced productivity of forests and increased mortality of trees; and increased risk of wildfire. The Oregon Legislature has approved new funding to begin helping communities do the work to address their water challenges. While this funding is a critical piece of meeting instream and out-of-stream water needs for Oregon's future, it is also critical that the state update its drought emergency plans and processes, and update how the state manages its own use of limited water resources. In response to direction ftom the Governor's Office, many Oregon agencies already have taken steps to improve the sustainability of their operations, including actions to reduce water usage. oregon state government can and should continue to lead by example, showing Oregonians that drought is a serious issue, but one that can be managed if we all work together. Many local governments have also curtailed water use on city and county facilities. I appreciate their leadership and encourage all local governments in drought- stricken counties to conserve water and begin implementing drought resiliency strategies as we face a worsening drought together. Eph.b,h 3 \ ,(3 a{f -z:\-o.oo5o8 sP i 9tf1-'+)|t-z\ -ooo 533nc- j q'Dft g Officeof theGoYernor Stateof Oregcm 2. EXECUTTVE ORDER NO. 2I-20 PAGE TWO NOW TIIEREFORE,IT IS HEREBY DIRECTED AND ORDERED: Definition. As used in this Executive Order, "state agency" means any agency within the Executive Department as defined in ORS 174.112. Il does not include the Oregon Secretary of State, Oregon State Treasury, Oregon Department ofJustice, and Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries, which are encouraged to curtail nonessential water use but are not subject to the directives of this Executive Order. Water CoJnservation Directives. To better prot€ct Oregon's communities, economy and natural resources, I hereby direct state agencies that own or manage land or facilities, including the Department of Administrative Services, Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, Oregon Department of State Lands, Oregon Depa*rnent of Fish and Wildlife, Oregon Department of Forestry, Oregon Department of Transportation, Oregon Military Department, and the Department of Corrections, to: A.Implement actions that curtail or end the non-essential use of water for landscaping and other exterior features ofbuildings and grounds, including but not limited to lawn watering fountains that do not re- circulate water, and window washing; Institute a moratorium (where allowed) on the installation of new non-essential landscaping projects that require irigation at state- owned buildings; and Develop and ptace signs and other rnessaging within state-owned buildings to encourage state employees to reduce their non-essential uses of water inside stat+owned buildings. 3 Other Necessary Consideratiqns. In making the adjustments set forth in paragraph 2 of this Executive Order, agencies must consider any social and disproportionate effects of these actions on underserved communities before making {inal decisions on water-saving measures. Additionally, water usage is essential (and not subject to the directives of this Executive Order) if it addresses needs associated with severe weather or extreme heat. B C Ex.t"*b,ts 3 z<> ,.tr\'.# Officeof thcGovcrnor Statc of Ore$on EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 2I-20 PAGE THREE 4 E&S!il,e Date, This Executive Order is effective immediately, and remains in effect until December 31, 2021, unless extended or terminated earlier by the Governor. Done at Salem, Oregon, this 7h day of July ,2021 jt i Fr^n 1)ttw** Kate Brown GOVERNOR ATTEST: Shemia Fagan SECRETARY OF STATE Eyr.^b;V 3 '{ 3