Oregon is facing its most challenging drought season in recent memory. Record-low snowpack and one of the warmest winters in state history are primary drivers of 2026's severe conditions.  

Long-term trends are clear: This is not an isolated event. Oregon and other Western states continue to experience persistent drought conditions associated with a warmer climate. While some recent years have seen periods of wetter conditions, the broader trend since 2000 has been toward warmer and drier conditions.  

Increasing the state’s resiliency to drought and evolving conditions will be essential to meet our water needs now and into the future. Understanding vulnerabilities to drought can help focus efforts to improve resiliency, and prevent or reduce drought impacts. 

The Oregon Water Resources Department contracted with Oregon State University, University of Oregon, and the National Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, to undertake a Drought Vulnerability Assessment that examines drought frequency, intensity, and impacts across the state, along with policy and water justice considerations. The Assessment consists of four reports authored by researchers from the three universities. You can access the Assessment on the OWRD website. 

Together, the reports help advance our collective understanding of drought vulnerability and point towards important considerations as we work to improve drought response and resilience. OWRD is already taking actions based on this report to inform our drought response actions for this year’s drought including:  

• Improving coordination of state drought response actions among agencies and with emergency managers 

• Strengthening engagement with Tribes 

• Providing resources for domestic well owners on how to maintain their wells 

• Expanding outreach and seeking funding for the Water Well Abandonment, Repair and Replacement Fund 

• Increasing awareness of the Dry Well Reporting Form, which provides valuable information on local groundwater conditions 

• Encouraging reporting of drought impacts to the Condition Monitoring Observing Reports system 

Building Resilience 

Oregon has made progress in recent years toward implementing strategies to address vulnerability and improve resilience, including: 

• Improving information and data distribution to sustainably manage our water resources, as well as anticipate and respond to drought 

• Funding and technical assistance for place-based water planning, which can help communities identify challenges and local solutions 

• State funding for water projects, improving water use efficiency for longer-term resilience 

• Financial assistance for low-to-moderate income homeowners experiencing well supply issues 

These strategies help build resilience over time.  

Drought Emergency Resources  

In the shorter term, all Oregonians can play a part in drought response and mitigating impacts by helping to conserve water. Below is information and resources for those affected by drought, and how you can do your part to conserve. 

• OWRD’s drought information website: drought.oregon.gov 

• Bi-Weekly Drought & Water Supply Conditions Report: 
  • Find the latest report: owrd.info/droughtupdates
  • Sign up for future editions via email: owrd.info/getdroughtupdate 
• Water right holders: We encourage water right holders with questions or concerns to contact their watermaster. Water right holders in counties with a Governor-declared drought may have certain short-term tools available. See OWRD’s Drought Emergency Tools document for more information: 
  • Temporary Transfer:  Apply to change the type of use, place of use, or the location of the diversion under an existing water right. A temporary drought transfer takes place under an expedited process and is in effect for the duration of the drought declaration or up to one year, whichever is shorter. 
  • Temporary Instream Lease: Convert all or a portion of a water right to an instream use for a period of one year or the term of the drought declaration, whichever is shorter. 
• Well owners: What to do if your well is underproducing and how to report a dry well  
• Wildfire: Learn about next steps for wells damaged by wildfire  and post-fire water right considerations 
• Help conserve water: Learn how you can save water at home, on the farm, and in drinking water systems. 
• Help track drought impacts: Submit a drought impacts report and learn more about the Conditions Monitoring Observation Reporting system.