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3 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories South Medford grad's classic, exotic shoe designs take her all over the world 6 Southern Oregon hikes you won't forget Transient who shot girlfriend for nagging in Rogue River convicted of murder Rogue Disposal considers rate increase Man jailed for allegedly firing shots in trailer park Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Transient who shot girlfriend for nagging in Rogue River convicted of murder Man jailed for allegedly firing shots in trailer park Second man sentenced for robbing elderly couple outside Talent Elk poacher ordered to pay $17,000 for Lake Creek Road area crimes Emergency Services, May 14 Politics and Elections Arthur I. Cyr: Camp David summit will not help Mideast stability Ashland water bills could go up to fund watershed protection Pacific Connector Gas Pipeline opponents rally in Medford BREAKING: Baltimore prosecutor charges officers in Freddie Gray's death Earthquakes hit regularly in Medford (Oklahoma, that is) Education South Medford, Ashland high schools earn national honors Medford garage sale will put books in African kids' hands Medford schools restore parent-teacher conferences Latino parents: More bilingual staff needed in Medford schools Medford schools still filling admin roles Environment Jackson County declares drought disaster Ashland water bills could go up to fund watershed protection Crater Lake may soon have China connection State waives college placement tests for students who hit high marks Stopping fire in its tracks State News Panel sends Jackson, Josephine drought declarations to governor Court overturns $85 million award for Oregon soldiers Oregon families should get $284 in tax rebates next year Pot tourism, one way or another, expected in Oregon Roseburg City Council holsters decision on garage-based gun store Nation - World There's a $10 million precious stone hidden in plain sight at Grand Central Obituaries Katie Beth (Lehnhardt) Marical Russell Dale Williams Keith D. Randahl Verla Jean Rametes Death Notices Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 Shareable Check out top import and export for every U.S. state Patriots fan sets up GoFundMe page to help pay for team's Deflategate fine Sports Latest Stories Three South, North athletes earn state berths Speeding through the summer Rogues eager to open third season Rockets stun Clippers, force deciding Game 7 James gets plenty of support as Cavs advance Varsity 541 College Sports Wu off to fast start in NCAA regional Beavers tie school home run record in rout A Wise freshman leads the Ducks Baldovino, Concordia upset No. 1 Oklahoma City Northwestern’s Wu chosen for NCAA field Pro Sports Rockets stun Clippers, force deciding Game 7 James gets plenty of support as Cavs advance Allred sizzles with opening 65, tied for second Djokovic tested by Bellucci; Murray, Serena withdraw From super sub to superstar Community Sports Bailey picks up modified win Business Latest Stories Blog: Cash deals for homes inches toward normal levels Tourism stronger than ever in Southern Oregon Medford airport still flying high with record passenger counts Erickson reports $75 million loss in 1st quarter Cars We Remember: Noted musician unravels 55-year Nash Rambler mystery Real Estate News Single-family home sales take off Never enough: New Starbucks proposed on Barnett Road in Medford Jackson County debt-ridden homeowners have an option New home in an old house Naumes plans custom-crush winery in former packing house People In Business People in Business Transportation Tourism stronger than ever in Southern Oregon Medford airport still flying high with record passenger counts Erickson finds room to work at Medford airport Lithia Motors nets $40.7 million in first quarter Lithia Motors reports second-best quarter ever Agriculture 1-800Flowers.com reports $10.5 million loss in third quarter Naumes plans custom-crush winery in former packing house Opinion Latest Letters to the Editor, May 15 Where would you put a new Costco? Our view: Legislature should fix both marijuana laws Granlund cartoon: Kim Jong Un and snoozing Dianne Williamson: Showing cards necessary in honest race talks Editorials Our view: Legislature should fix both marijuana laws Our View: City should let SkyPark project move ahead Our View: E-cigarette bill is half right, half wrong Our View: Abundant water no excuse for waste Our View: Mental health funding should be a priority Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, May 15 Letters to the Editor, May 14 Letters to the Editor, May 13 Letters to the Editor, May 12 Letters to the Editor, May 11 Columns Arthur I. Cyr: Camp David summit will not help Mideast stability George Will: In childhood, risk is inherent Dana Milbank: Power to the populists Kathleen Parker: Defining deity down: Changing others' religion Guest Opinion: Ample water? Think again Guest Opinions Guest Opinion: Ample water? Think again Guest Opinion: Oregon mothers need much more than flowers Guest Opinion: Child poverty and the Schneider Children’s Center Guest Opinion: Animal-killing program pulls wool over taxpayers' eyes Guest Opinion: Uniting to restore our sovereignty to we, the people Lifestyle Latest stories Religion Briefs: Friday, May 15   Looking Up: Jupiter heading toward Venus There's something for all ages at this year's Jackson County Fair Speeding through the summer Water world Food 6 stars of the Rogue Valley food universe Season Stepp: Use pink lemonade in recipes Quick, easy, versatile Page H. Onorato: Cookbook offers old friend in the kitchen today A classic dish: Celery Victor Home and Garden Betty Montgomery: Longleaf pines making a comeback Pergola, arbor, gazebo: Learn the differences Dear Monty: Five tips for companies to reduce relocation costs Options abound for gardens in shady spots Tricks and tips to enlarge your small bath Health Brent St. Germain: Weight loss goes to the dogs Community blog: Don't Fall for This Part 2 Health Watch: Easy tips to drink more water throughout the day New cardiac rehab center opens at Asante RRMC Community blog: You and Me at 83... Hiking Biking Faith Religion Briefs: Friday, May 15 Religion Briefs: Friday, May 8 Religion Briefs: Friday, May 1 Religion Briefs: Friday, April 24 Religion Briefs: Friday, April 17 Milestones and Achievements Bukair-Hinkle Wedding: Stephanie Anne Obad and Mark Douglass Schmor Ashland water bills could go up to fund watershed protection Drones helping create unique wedding photos Pick your favorite wedding flowers Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories Live Music in Local Clubs Steve Poltz, Grant-Lee Phillips at Old Ashland Armory 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest' Flowers, art and music highlight Art in Bloom 5 picks for live entertainment Theater 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest' REVIEW: Randall Theatre's 'Little Shop of Horrors' a rollicking good time REVIEW: Carson, Patton shine in 'Arsenic and Old Lace' Some Oregon Shakespeare Festival crew members seek to unionize Randall Theatre stages 'Little Shop of Horrors' Music Live Music in Local Clubs Steve Poltz, Grant-Lee Phillips at Old Ashland Armory Victor D. 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The Farr Side: Contest open for singer-songwriters Live Music in Local Clubs Community Events Third Friday: 'Into the Woods' is a must-see 5 things to see at Art in Bloom Flowers, art and music highlight Art in Bloom Hip-Hop Poetry Open Mic at OSF's Black Swan in Ashland Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhiits by regional artists Movies Movie review: ‘Mad Max’ is a fresh, fantastic approach to a classic idea Your A-to-Z guide to the ‘Mad Max’ franchise Movie review: ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’ will leave your inner 12-year-old giggling with glee Movie review: ‘Hot Pursuit’ is a hot mess George Miller returns to his ‘Mad Max’ roots Dining 6 stars of the Rogue Valley food universe Cool down with a cold one (or two, or three) Nguyen Street Food From rustic to elegant: Wine tasting in Southern Oregon Quick, easy, versatile Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obits Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Special Sections Business Services NEWS NOW Emergency Services ... Our view: Legislature should fix both marijuana laws ... Fishing Report: Friday, May 15 ... Emergency Services ... Our view: Legislature should fix both marijuana laws ... Fishing Report: Friday, May 15 ... WATER Jackson County declares drought disaster Low snowpack will spell trouble this summer By Vickie Aldous Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Vickie Aldous Mail Tribune Posted May. 14, 2015 @ 12:01 am By Vickie Aldous Mail Tribune Posted May. 14, 2015 @ 12:01 am » Social News p bs:newslist StartDate="20121121" EndDate="p bs:datecalc Months="3"" DateSort="1" UseObjects="1" ObjectClass="81" Taxonomywords="2325,665" ExactTaxonomyMatch="1" Image="1" Count="4" --> The Jackson County Board of Commissioners has declared a local disaster because of drought conditions. Commissioners also voted unanimously Wednesday to ask Gov. Kate Brown to declare a drought emergency for all of Jackson County due to severe and continuing drought conditions. Commissioner Colleen Roberts said rain this week isn't enough to ease drought problems. "Even though we have welcome rain this week, the snowpack gives us concern," she said. A drought declaration for Jackson County allows for emergency water-use permits, temporary transfers of water rights, preferred use of water rights for human consumption and other steps, according to Jackson County officials. "We obviously can't create water in a drought, but we can try to help," said Larry Menteer, southwest region manager for the Oregon Water Resources Department. Although total precipitation — including rain and snow — for the water year is at 89 percent of average, snowpack in the Rogue Basin is just 13 percent of average, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture statistics for the water year that ended April 28. Local irrigation districts rely on gradually melting snow to supply reservoirs through the summer irrigation season. As of this week, Emigrant Lake is 84 percent full because it captured February rainfall. Not enough rain fell farther east to help Howard Prairie Lake, which is 40 percent full, or Hyatt Lake, which stands at 42 percent full, according to Menteer and Bureau of Reclamation measurements. Northeast of Medford, Fourmile Lake is 52 percent full and Fish Lake is 61 percent full. Agate Lake is a bright spot at 94 percent full. Menteer and local irrigation district managers pointed to the Mt. Ashland Ski Area as a local entity helped by past drought declarations. The ski area was unable to open during the winter of 2013-2014 because of low snow. It secured a $750,000 Small Business Administration disaster loan to stay afloat. The ski area was able to get the low-interest loan because Jackson County borders California and the state had been declared a federal disaster area due to drought. This past winter, the ski area operated for 38 days because of lower snowfall than average. Ski Area General Manager Hiram Towle said the nonprofit ski area has no plans to seek another drought loan because it doesn't want to take on more debt. "We're actually pretty committed to not extending any more lines of credit and working to protect the money we have," Towle said. The ski area has proposed branching out with more summer activities to augment its unpredictable winter operations. Jackson County Administrator Danny Jordan said eight long-term snowpack monitoring sites in the Rogue Basin set new record lows, including four sites on Mount Ashland that have been measured continuously for more than 40 years. "Local water experts proclaim that this is the lowest snowpack of record in Jackson County," Jordan said. Low water supplies can shorten the growing season and hurt agricultural, vineyard and livestock producers. In the forests, low fuel moisture levels have prompted predictions of an early wildfire season, Jordan said. Talent Irrigation District Manager Jim Pendleton said water users likely will get 15 percent less water this season. Last year, TID stretched water supplies to the last week of September, a week shy of the normal end to the irrigation season, Pendleton said. Rogue River Valley Irrigation District Manager Brian Hampson said the drought likely will cause an early end to the RRVID's irrigation season, as it did last year. "We're not in the best of shape. We had to shut off on Sept. 9 last year," he said. "This year, I don't think we'll make it that long. We're hoping to make it to late August or early September." Staff reporter Vickie Aldous can be reached at 541-776-4486 or [email protected] . Follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/VickieAldous . By Vickie Aldous Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Vickie Aldous Mail Tribune Posted May. 14, 2015 @ 12:01 am » Comment or view comments /* $( document ).ready(function() { // Jquery mobile is trying to style the button and leaving a blank gry button on top of a white button $("#viafouracoms .vf-comment-controls li.vf-right").html(' Submit '); });*/ » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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