Regional weather patterns are changing
By Terry Murry on Friday, May 1st, 2026 in Columbia Basin News Columbia Basin Top Stories
UMATILLA COUNTY – Long-range forecasters had it right when they predicted less snow and more rain several years ago. Umatilla County Soil and Water Conservation District Manager Kyle Waggoner says it will take a cooperative effort to learn to cope with the change.
“It’s going to take an all-hands-on-deck approach to really address these – let’s call them extreme weather patterns – that we’re receiving,” he said. “Honestly, that’s going to be the only way. We’re going to work together and kind of shift back and forth between extreme flood and extreme drought.”
At last report, Umatilla County was in a moderate drought. The summer is predicted to be hot and dry. However, when rain does come it has come in bursts, causing flash flooding in many areas including Mill Creek, and Pine Creek and Wildhorse Creek in the Weston and Athena areas.
He said that since the flood of 2020, rivers have “moved around,” and even normal high flow events can cause concern simply because there are active erosion spots.
“These problems and these rivers, they take a long time to address,” he said.
Waggoner was a guest on KUMA Coffee Hour on April 29. Listen to the podcast at Coffee Hour Podcast clips – Omny.fm.
Photo from Umatilla County Soil and Water Conservation District
