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About Columbia Gorge news. (The Dalles, OR) 2020-current | View Entire Issue (June 16, 2021)
Wednesday,June16,2021 Columbia Gorge News DROUGHT Continued from page 1 is one of several complet- ed and more planned in the group’s proposed 20-year action plan. More information is at hoodriv- erwatershed.org/our-work/ water-conservation. ■ Hendrixson is working with local landowners to reduce waste and increase cooling shade in streams. Grants are available — up to $15,000 — to help with irri- gation, manure storage and mud management. Providing simple stream crossings for cattle, for example, is among ways to improve water quali- ty and reduce erosion. ■ If well-users draw down groundwater during the drought, will it also impact river and stream levels, Perkins asked. Studies so far are inconclusive, he said, and need follow-up. Past studies have monitored 60 of the nearly 500 well-users in the county, but more studies need to be made to create accurate models. ■ Drought conditions are already clogging his irri- gation pipes, according to The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is offering $41.8 million to help agricultural produc- ers in Oregon, Arizona, California, Colorado with immediate impacts of the historic drought condi- tions. Fund applications are available as part of the federal Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) through local offices of the Natural Resources Conservation Services. “As ongoing drought conditions in Oregon continue to worsen, we knew we needed to increase our sup- port to farmers and ranchers in dealing with drought and prepare for the challenges of tomorrow,” said Ron Alvarado, NRCS state conservationist in Oregon. NRCS will set aside $11.8 million directly for drought-related practices. Practices include forest stand improvement, woody residue treatment, tree and shrub establishment, brush management, prescribed grazing, pasture and hay planting, range planting, livestock watering systems and cover crops. Gorge-area producers who are interested in this tar- geted funding can contact USDA Service Center Service Centers in The Dalles, 541- 298-8559, and in Parkdale, 541-352-1037. For more information about the Oregon EQIP program, visit www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/ nrcs/detail/or/programs/financial/eqip. Oates. “Our water is just too intake, it is difficult to irrigate darn dirty,” he said. When al- with conservation-friendly gae and organic matter from drip or spray methods. warm and low flows clog the Klickitat County was among 28 counties included in a Washington Department of Ecology (DOE) drought advisory announcement May 21. DOE graphic Trees For Sorosis Jacob Bertram ■ By Columbia Gorge News County, while 2021 has been measured as the 25th driest year in the same time span, The U.S. Drought Monitor, suggesting an earlier dry as of Thursday June 8, put the season this year. On May 21, Klickitat eastern portion of Klickitat County in "extreme drought" County was among 28 coun- conditions, the second ties included in a Washington highest category of drought Department of Ecology severity behind "exceptional" (DOE) drought advisory drought. Western parts of announcement. the county were measured at According to the an- "abnormally dry" conditions, nouncement, A drought to "moderate" and "severe" advisory provides early warn- drought conditions from west ing of a possible drought. to east. It promotes awareness and According to the U.S. readiness for water users Drought Monitor, April in areas where drought 2021 was the 13th driest conditions are developing. April in 127 years of record- Drought advisories are infor- mational only, and include ed conditions in Klickitat no emergency authoriza- tions or funding. This is the first time the Department of Ecology has issued a drought advisory since it received the authority to do so from the Legislature in 2020. There are growing con- cerns for farmers and ranch- ers in Eastern Washington, according to the DOE announcement. Early obser- vations of crop stress and ex- pectations for reduced yields are being reported, said Water Resources Planner Jeff Marti. Marti said he’s already heard anecdotal accounts of problems from wheat farm- ers and hay producers. NOW OPEN FOR DINING Homemade specialties by Chef Joe Kosarek Enjoy this one-of-a-kind artisan experience in The Dalles. Open Wed-Sun. 4-9 pm 541-296-5666 www.baldwinsaloon.com Gourmet in the Woods? CAMP STOVE CAMP FIRE POT Summer WILD Sweepstakes $ 8,000 in Outdoor Gear Prizes! Take a Walk on the Wild Side scan to enter 116 Oak St, Hood River, OR 541-386-5474 shorttsupply.com We are the BEST at custom fitting your new running shoes! Students at Dry Hollow raised $3,000 to purchase trees at Sorosis Park in The Dalles. Classes compet- ed to raise funds, with the winning class choosing which staff member got to "kiss the pig." The pig, Penelope, was provided by River City Saloon owner Clare Kirkwood. Pictured Left to Right: Dry Hollow Principal Ajay Rundell, Dry Hollow student council treasurer Rivers Kohltfarber, Scott Baker, NWCPR district director, Carter Crowe, student council president, Eithan Oseguera, student council class rep- resentative, and third grade teacher Emily Stewart. Contributed photo CHIEF Worthy familiar with community Continued from page 1 all over the region. The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce, which represents the business community, is another important relation- ship to maintain because “public safety is economic development.” It is also important to Worthy to continue the collaborative relationships with community resources such as The Mid-Columbia Center for Living, who in the past has provided guidance and training for officers to safely handle crises concern- ing mental health, as well as HAVEN, who can provide support in the event of do- mestic violence. “We want to make sure that the right resource is attending to the correct problem, and it might not always be law enforcement,” he said. “We might be a first responder, but we may not be the ultimate resolution. The officers are very well advised and practiced in contacting mental health [or other] professionals when they need to.” Like the community, Worthy is still getting to know the department he has recently taken over, but has created goals in a few areas, one being to update the cur- rently used technology. “I recognize and acknowl- edge the challenge and expense those projects can bring to an agency, and I also recognize this department could improve in terms of its use of technology in some areas,” he said. “Technology moves fast, and we need to keep pace with it. Not be- cause we need new or shiny things, but because of the efficiency and accountability that those tools add for us.” One benefit to installing software such as newer Microsoft Office applications is that officers would be able to implement tools such as voice-to-text, which could save significant time when drafting reports. “It has the potential for returning time to the agency where they can be out in the community keeping it safe, rather than typing out a report which is what we do now,” Worthy explained. Another goal he has in mind is to eventually earn an accreditation for The Dalles Police Department. “I want to ensure that the department is functioning at the absolutely optimal level.” Worthy said. “The formalized process ensures that any ‘blind spots’ that we (or I) may have are covered. Accredited agencies enjoy less risk than others may and we can demon- strate to our community our commitment to excellence through this process, as well as potential new officer candidates.” To achieve accreditation, the department would need to go through a process in which outside experts eval- uate and grade department policies, procedures and work products on sever- al different components. According to Worthy, the process could take up to two years. “I think that we’re well poised to achieve accredita- tion,” he said, “but we have to go through the work first, and we have to prove it to the accreditation evaluators, and so we are going to launch that process sometime this fall.” When asked if he had any- thing he would like to share with his new community, Worthy said that the police department has their back. “We’re always here, they can always call us,” he said. “With wisdom, and compassion, we are going to serve the com- munity every single day [and] with our community partners — of course we can’t do it alone — we want to keep this community as safe as possi- ble every day of the year, no matter what the time.” M C N EALY E XCAVATING 360-837-1613 86th Annual 86th Annual 86th Annual Ketchum Kalf R ODE O Father’s Day Weekend June 19 & 20, 2021 June 19 & 20, 2021 Glenwood, Washington Glenwood, Washington June 19 & 20, 2021 Glenwood, Washington Saturday & Sunday Grand Entry 12:30 pm • Shows start 1 pm General Admission Prices General Admission Prices Adults ................................................... $10 Adults (ages ................................................... $10 Kids 6 Admission -12 ) ............................ $5 General Prices Kids 6 -12 ) ....................... ............................ $5 & under) FRee Kids (ages ( 5 ................................................... Adults $10 Kids (ages ( 5 & under) FRee 6 -12 ) ....................... ............................ $5 Kids ( 5 & under) ....................... FRee Kids Games • Sunday Only Western Beer Garden with Live Music Camping sites available • $10 per day Rodeo Entry Junior Open Barrel Racing Ages 8 to 13 - $25 To enter call 509-364-3427 Shawna Roberson Memorial Buckle awarded to Jr Barrel Race Winner. “Tye” Murray Memorial Jacket awarded to Top Money Winner! Cowboy Breakfast 6:30 am - 10 am Sunday Glenwood School Cowboy Church Service 9 am - 10 am Sunday Rodeo Hall For more information call 509-364-3363 • 509-364-3427 M ANY THANKS Rodeo Parade 11 am Sunday Downtown Glenwood NPR A NPR A NPR A TO OUR S PONSORS LISTED HERE ! 2 • T RI AD E QU IPMEN T 800-221-8512 • A ND REW S HVAC 509-493-3744 L ES S CHWAB T IRE 541-386-1123 • C OLU MBIA K 509-493-2500 • F F UN UN C C OUNTRY OUNTRY P P OWER OWER S S PORTS PORTS 541-298-1161 541-298-1161 R IAD IPM ENT N DR EWS MBI A B AN ANK Wash. drought advisory includes Klickitat County Over www.columbiagorgenews.com Funds help farmers with drought Officials discuss solutions M I ID D C OLU MBIA E 541-386-2477 • G LEN WOOD AL S TOR E 509-364-3535 • J OEL P ATT ERSON Y 509-865-6664 • T OPPEN ISH L IVESTOC K 509-865-2820 MBI A M AR ARI IN NE LENW OOD G ENER EN ERAL AT TER SON M ASONR ASON RY OPPENISH IVEST OCK 2