PRINEVILLE, Ore. (AP) - Crook County, Ore., has declared a drought, asking Gov. John Kitzhaber to follow suit with an emergency declaration.
The action by the county commission on Wednesday makes the Central Oregon county the fifth to declare a drought this winter as snowpacks and rains continue to lag far behind normal levels.
The latest report from the Natural Resources Conservation Service shows the Upper Deschutes-Crooked River Basin with snowpack at 73 percent of normal, and precipitation at 68 percent.
The governor last week declared drought emergencies in Klamath, Lake, Harney and Malheur counties.
The state drought declaration provides more flexibility for distributing water, but a federal action is required to qualify farmers and ranchers for low-interest federal loans.
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