We live in a semi-arid shrub steppe, but doesn’t it seem especially dry this year?

2025 is the 4th driest year to date in Okanogan County over the last 131 years

How can we be more prepared for the inevitable droughts we will live through in the Methow and Okanogan?

The Okanogan Conservation District and Methow Watershed Project are holding community meetings over the next month to help inform Okanogan County’s Local Drought Preparedness Plan. At these meetings community members will be asked to share local drought impacts, map areas at risk of drought emergency and brainstorm project ideas to prepare for drought. This input from you is important to this process. Pick the meeting below that corresponds to your area:

July 30, 6:00-8:00 pm, Winthrop Library Community Room

August 13, 6:30-8:30 pm OK PUD Auditorium

August 19, 5:00-7:00 pm, Carlton Motel

August 20, 5:00-7:00 pm Colville Reservation, Nespelem Government Building  

August 27, 6:00-8:00 pm, Brewster High School

Over the last 3 years our total precipitation during each water year (Oct.-Sept) has been well below normal (in the bottom 10 percent). This has kept us in drought conditions. This year our precipitation (black line) is in the 2nd percentile. The median precipitation (green line) at this time of year is normally 12 inches higher.