Oregon Rivers Hit Record Lows as State Faces Fourth Driest Season in 130 Years

By Lucille McNamara On Sep 14, 2025

Walla Walla River in Oregon | Courtesy: Washington State Department of Ecology

Oregon had its fourth driest season between April and July since 1895, when rainfall figures first began being recorded, according to state climatologist Larry O’Neill.

Almost 80% of the Northwest Has Been Declared a Drought Region

Almost 80% of the Northwest has been declared a drought region, with Governor Tina Kotek declaring a drought emergency in July in Baker, Coos, Douglas, Lincoln, Morrow, Union, and Wheeler counties.

Her declaration signaled Oregon’s severe and prolonged water shortage and allowed the state to provide temporary permits and water use transfers to water-right holders.

Apart from managing critically low stream flows, the declaration also raises public awareness to conserve water.

51,039 Square Miles of Oregon Falls Into Drought Region

Earlier this month 52%, or 51,039 square miles of the state, was declared a drought region, while 19%, or 18,870 square miles, has been declared abnormally dry.

However, drought is nothing new to Oregon, having experienced similar conditions in 1924, 1931, 1977, 1994, and in 2020.

Oregon received only about half of its usual seasonal spring rain between April and August, says climatologist O’Neill, who is also an associate professor at Oregon State University’s College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences.

Drought Has Been Ongoing For More Than a Year in Three Oregon Counties

While most of Oregon and the Northwest are experiencing short-term drought conditions, drought has been ongoing for more than a year in parts of the state, such as Baker, Umatilla, and Wallowa counties.

Record-low stream flows were recorded in Northwest Oregon rivers and along the Coast Range this summer, with 50% of streams measuring below normal.

O’Neill says scientists are particularly concerned about Oregon’s Alsea, Chetco, Nehalem, and Siletz rivers, all measuring well below normal stream flows. All four rivers offer visitors excellent recreation facilities and fishing opportunities, although these activities may now be limited.

Apart from the lack of spring rainfall, high summer temperatures melted snowpacks earlier than usual, resulting in low-level stream flows.

However, it is in western Washington, northern Idaho, and western Montana that extreme drought conditions are being experienced.