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Home My WebLink AboutRes 038 - Declare Localized Drought EmergencyDeschutes County Board of Commissioners 1300 NW Wall St., Suite 200, Bend, OR 97701-1960 (541) 388-6570 -Fax (541) 385-3202 -www.deschutes.org AGENDA REQUEST & STAFF REPORT For Board Business Meeting of April 29, 2015 DATE: April 22, 2015 FROM: Nathan Garibay Sheriffs Office 541-617-3303 TITLE OF AGENDA ITEM: Consideration of approval of: Resolution Declaring a Localized State of Emergency and Requesting State Declaration of Drought Emergency for the Three Sisters Irrigation District. PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS DATE? No BACKGROUND AND POLICY IMPLICATIONS: Deschutes County has been affected by low snow pack for two consecutive years. Although much of Deschutes County is expected to endure drought conditions due to the fact that our reservoirs are full and springs feeding the Deschutes River are expected to maintain this year, one area of concern is northwester Deschutes County. This area of the county located in the Sisters, Cloverdale, and Lower Bridge area is served by the Three Sisters Irrigation District (TSID). Unlike other districts that have water storage in reservoirs, TSID relies exclusively on water diverted from Whychus Creek. FISCAL IMPLICATIONS: None RECOMMENDATION & ACTION REQUESTED: Approve and sign the Resolution Declaring a Localized State of Emergency and Requesting State Declaration of Drought Emergency for the Three Sisters Irrigation District ATTENDANCE: Nathan Garibay, Deschutes County Sheriffs Office Emergency Manager Jeremy Giffin, Deschutes Basin Watermaster, OWRD DISTRIBUTION OF DOCUMENTS: To: Deschutes County Board of Commissioners From: Sgt. Nathan Garibay Date: April 20, 2015 Subject: Request Approval of Drought Resolution for Northwestern Deschutes County Commissioner/County Administrator Approval: __________________ Date: _____________ Deschutes County Sheriff's Office Emergency Services is requesting the Board of Commissioners' approval of a resolution declaring a drought emergency for the area served by Three Sisters Irrigation District (Northwest Deschutes County). Synopsis: Deschutes County has been affected by low snow pack for two consecutive years. Although much of Deschutes County is expected to endure drought conditions due to the fact that our reservoirs are full and springs feeding the Deschutes River are expected to maintain this year, one area of concern is northwester Deschutes County. This area of the county located in the Sisters, Cloverdale, and Lower Bridge area is served by the Three Sisters Irrigation District (TSID). Unlike other districts that have water storage in reservoirs, TSID relies exclusively on water diverted from Whychus Creek. Whychus Creek is fed by snowmelt and runoff from the Three Sisters Mountains. The best indicator of available water is the Three Creek Meadows SNOTEL site located southwest of Sisters. • Average snow water content on April 1 -17" to 18" • Snow water content in April 1, 1977 (Declared Drought Emergency) -8" • Snow water content at present -0.3" It is highly likely given the forecasted run-off and water supply this summer that irrigators in the TSID will face significantly reduced water availability creating a significant threat to crops and livestock. A localized state of emergency and subsequent state declaration of drought emergency for TSID would ensure the district and water users would be eligible to apply for benefits under a variety of drought programs. Action Recommended: Approve and sign the Resolution Declaring a Localized State ofEmergency and Requesting State Declaration ofDrought Emergency for the Three Sisters Irrigation District. Please contact Sgt. Garibay at 541-617-3303 if you have questions concerning this request. REVIEWED LEGAL COUNSEL For Recording Stamp Only BEFORE THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF DESCHUTES COUNTY, OREGON A Resolution Declaring a Localized State of * Emergency and Requesting State Declaration of * RESOLUTION NO. 2015-038 Drought Emergency for the Three Sisters * Irrigation District WHEREAS, ORS 401.309 and the Deschutes County Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) authorize the county governing body to declare a state of emergency within the county or within a designated portion of the county; and WHEREAS, drought conditions endanger crops and livestock, endanger the health and safety of the county's population, jeopardize economic vitality within the county, and imperil the quality of the environment; and WHEREAS, the Three Sisters Irrigation District (TSID) IS the governing body for delivery and distribution of water within the boundaries of the TSID; and WHEREAS, the TSID relies exclusively on water diverted from Whychus Creek, a tributary of the Deschutes River, to provide irrigation to farms and livestock operations; and WHEREAS, Whychus Creek is fed by snow melt and runoff from the Three Sisters mountains and has averaged 17" to 18" of snow water content as measured at the Three Creek Meadows SNOTEL site for the past 30 years; and WHEREAS, on April 1, 1977 the snow water content at Three Creeks Meadows measured 8" which triggered a declared emergency by the State of Oregon (EM-3039); and WHEREAS, presently (2015) the snow water content at Three Creeks Meadow is less than 0.3" creating a significant threat to crops and livestock; and WHEREAS, the extended weather forecast for Central Oregon projects higher than normal temperatures and below average precipitation, now therefore, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF DESCHUTES COUNTY, OREGON, as follows: Section 1. Pursuant to ORS 401.309 and the Deschutes County EOP, a State of Emergency is presently declared within the portion of unincorporated Deschutes County which is served by the Three Sisters Irrigation District (TSID). Section 2. Pursuant to ORS 401.032(2), the governing body for Deschutes County finds that the appropriate response is beyond the capability of Deschutes County. PAGE 1 OF 2-RESOLUTIONNO. 2015-038 -------- Section 3. The governing body for Deschutes County respectfully submits the Request contained innnediately below in Section 4. Section 4. Request: The Honorable Kate Brown, Governor of Oregon, declare a Drought Emergency for that portion of unincorporated Deschutes County that is served by the Three Sisters Irrigation District (TSID) under the provisions of 0 RS 401.165 due to severe and continuing drought conditions beginning at this time and continuing for an unknown period of time; and direct the Oregon Department of Water Resources to make available for TSID Temporary Transfers of Water Rights, Emergency Water Use Permits, and Use of Existing Right Option! Agreement; and other federal and state drought assistance and programs as needed. Section 5. This Resolution shall take effect innnediately from and after its adoption. BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF DESCHUTES COUNTY, OREGON Dated this of ,2015 ANTHONY DEB ONE, Chair ATTEST: ALAN UNGER, Vice Chair Recording Secretary TAMMY BANEY, Commissioner PAGE 2 OF 2 -RESOLUTION NO. 2015-038 Three Sisters Irrigation District Three SISters Irrigation District o ~ .. ~ t o ~ of+ ~ t->v .r---12S___ .. " 's i. l a Itt CK l~lm ll,.,EaUT o So urces: Eso, HERE, Delorme, TomTom. Int ermap. Increment P Corp., GE BCO. USGS. FA O, NF1. NRCAN, Geo8ase. IGN. Kad.lsler NL, Ordnance Su rvey. Esri~apa n. MEn , Esri China (Hong Kong), swiSSJti po, Map myfnd la, Cl OpenStreetMap contnbutors, and..-GIS User Community