Office of the Governor release - Oregon and the western United States are in the worst megadrought on record. A megadrought is a period of extreme dryness that lasts for decades. Although there have been individual years of wet conditions since the year 2000, on average conditions have been drier than any other period in the past thousand years. Drought conditions impact water supplies, streamflow, agriculture productivity, wildfire danger, and ecosystem health. Understanding drought - The leading contributors to drought are temperature and precipitation such as rain or snowfall. These two factors influence snowpack, soil moisture, and streamflows, which are common indicators of drought. Drought conditions can disrupt water supply cycles to the point that demand for water is greater than the water supply, impacting both people and ecosystems. During a severe or multi-year drought, groundwater and above-ground reservoirs are not able to adequately refill. Unfortunately, this sets the stage for wildfires, poor grazing and crop conditions, decreased streamflows and habitat for fish, diminished water quality, and scarce water supplies for human consumption. Effects on water supply - Drought has become more persistent and more intense in recent years. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, much of Oregon has typically been in moderate to extreme drought in recent years This leads to impacts on water supplies. When less water is available than usual, it causes significant impacts on community water supplies, agricultural yields, and the health of ecosystems. Oregon's state agencies continually coordinate to address drought impacts and support water users. State leaders continue to work on opportunities for long-term resilience and planning for water scarcity. What you can do - Everyone in Oregon can take steps to conserve water during periods of extreme drought. Even small actions can help save water. Learn more about what you can do to use water wisely.