Shocking Climate Changes in Oregon: Drought Report

California has been getting the tons of attention for the historic drought, but it is not only one state that experiences severe economic impacts on agriculture and natural resources. The drought is officially declared in the state of Oregon.

According to the final Water Supply Review for 2015, the NRCS (Natural Resources Conservation Service), Oregon's snowpack in the winter of 2015 peaked at the lowest levels ranked in the last 35 years. Numerous snow monitoring sites set records for the lowest peak snowpack and earliest melt-out date since measurements began. Streamflow is presumed to be well below normal through the end of summer, especially in the driest regions of the state. The current statewide average precipitation is 88%.

In western Oregon, the snowpack topped 60-90% below the normal amounts. The snow melted three months earlier. The snowpack in the Eastern Oregon was insignificantly better, peaking 30-80% below average levels and up to 2 months earlier than usual. Lack of normal snowpack has led to lowest streamflow for the state. According to the National Drought Monitor, most of Oregon is included in the severe to extreme drought group. In 2015, Governor Kate Brown declared a drought state of emergency in 15 counties, as a result, and water shortages across Oregon are expected.

The official drought is in place for 2015 in the following counties: Baker, Coos, Crook, Curry, Deschutes, Gilliam, Douglas, Grant, Harney, Hood River, Josephine,Jackson, Jefferson, Klamath, Lane, Lake, Malheur, Morrow, Sherman, Union, Umatilla, Wasco and Wheeler. Lynn County requested drought declaration on August 19, 2015.

For homeowners in the state of Oregon, limited water supplies means the necessity to cut down water used for landscape irrigation. Water Resources Department suggests to water before 10 am in the morning to prevent water evaporation, fungus, and other lawn diseases. But water costs are rising across the country. In the city of Portland, Oregon, the rate in 2015-2016 is $3.940 per unit compared to $3.682 in 2014-2015. Water in Oregon is cheaper than in California where in 2015, the single-family household is charged $4.86 per unit, $6.52 for each additional unit after four used, and $12.40 for all wastewater units. There is no tiered pricing for Oregon water users yet. But as drought spreads, water agencies will increase prices to encourage businesses and residents to conserve water.

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August 21, 2015 | Water Conservation, Water Conservation, Water Shortage, Water Shortage, Water Facts, Water Facts, Drought, Drought, Water Scarcity, Water Scarcity

Jon Stewart References California as a Jurassic World But This Time... BOOM! Everything Went Horribly Wrong.

The "Daily Show" host Jon Stewart has his own idea of how to solve the California Drought issue.

"First, as you know, California goes through historic unprecedented dry spell. " - says Jon Stewart at Thursday's Daily Show. "We are talking about original movie ideas. BOOM! Take that Jurassic world. Hey, what if they build another dinosaur theme park, but this time things also went horribly wrong."

Check Out The Daily Show With Jon Stewart http://www.hulu.com/watch/803181

Then, Stewart explains why there is a little hope for Californians to avoid the consequences of the drought: "I am talking about the catastrophic four-year drought. Californian's reservoirs are empty. The snow pack is gone. What little water remains in control of ruthless, disfigured warlord, doling out precious moisture from his mountain stronghold" (referencing this year blockbuster hit Mad Max.)

In the next clip, Stewart demonstrates, is an image of Immortan Joe, the lord of the Citadel (the place that beholds the water supply) in Mad Max, and states "Wow, Jerry Brown has not aged well."

"I am just kidding, " - says Stewart. "Jerry Brown didn't age at all. He is still good old governor, putting a water scarcity issue in terms that anyone on "shrooms" can understand. "

In the next clip presents the Jerry Brown quotes: "Someone will call water a right. Someone will call water an essence of life. Water is a baptism. Water is a poetry."

Jon Stewart seems to have a hard time to agree with a poetic associations of the governor of California. He says: "Roses are read. Violets are blue. Can I wash my f#* wash car or not?"

Can California conserve enough water to support life in the state? Stewart thinks there is time to get on top of the disaster: "California instituted mandatory water restrictions. They are tempting to get overall water usage down to 25 percent, obviously not including agriculture which is most of the water usage. But right now, usage is only down 9 percent, so it is time to get real."

As we know, apart from the state government ideas to desalinate the water from the ocean, which will inevitably increase the cost of water five times or more, and the latest plan of Jerry Brown to build two tunnels to divert water around the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta to the south, the water recycling plan sounds more realistic as now. Some Southern California communities are using the recycled water, and it works well for them and the environment. But what do people think of this alternative?

"This 620 million dollar water recycling plant turns treated sewage from the sanitation department next door into drinkable water. The water that comes out is cleaner than most tap water in the country. It's officially called "Indirect potable reuse", but it's more descriptively known as toilet-to-tap."

It is easier to say from the East Coast location, where the Daily Show is filmed, but Stewart is more open-minded than most of us. He says: " It's known as toilet-to-tap, but there are steps in between. You are not just sticking a drinking straw in somebody's ass. There is a process it goes through. But, obviously, thanks to the name toilet-to-tap, people tends to react to this God-sent drought solution like this."

What do people think about the recycled water? Or, rather, how do they feel about it?

"That's dirty. That's nasty."

"It's kind of disgusting."

"Yucky factor."

"Major icky and gross factor."

Gayle King is not an exception: "Of course when you how it is done, it's just a graphic in my mind - what I've seen in the toilet it's scary."

"Californians! If you want to buy something you don't call it what it's really is. You have to spice it up a little bit. Like, porn. You think the Valley would have porn, if porn were renamed "Sad Romanians. F*# for money?" - asks Stewart.

Snitching, according to Stewart, is a "far more renewable resource" of water conservation than technologies to recycle water. He mentions that some water agencies in California launched the app for people to report water wasters.

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June 15, 2015 | Water Conservation, Water Conservation, California Water, California Water, California Drought, California Drought, Drought In California, Drought In California, Drought California, Drought California, Drought, Drought, Water Scarcity, Water Scarcity

How Do You Feel About California's Water Restrictions?

Al Madrigal, L.A. resident, wasn't in mood to discuss California drought with Jon Stewart.

"I'm sick of it," - he says. "Back home it's all we talk about. We use to go to dinner and discuss movies. Which stars are secretly gays. But now it's just - "How long was your shower. Did you use a backet? Hey, that's a guy whose lawn is green. Call the cops! "

Man, it feels good! I am taking an advantage of your unregulated East Coast Water-topia! Man, it feels good!

Jon, I have to get it out of my system before I go home and slip the recycled toilet water.

I haven't wasted water like this in years!

I am going to paint this town wet, Jon!

Named Best Stand-Up Comedian by the HBO/U.S. Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen, Al Madrigal's comedy has been called "dynamic" by The New York Times. His unique, spontaneous and fast-paced lyrical storytelling style has made him a regular on television with numerous appearances on Comedy Central including his own half-hour Comedy Central Presents Special and appearances on John Oliver's New York Stand-up Show and Pretend Time with Nick Swardson. Al has also appeared with Conan O'Brien (as one of the first 20 guests during his stint as host of "The Tonight Show," and on "Conan" on TBS) as well as multiple appearances on ""Lopez Tonight," "The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" and "Jimmy Kimmel Live."

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