Indigenous farmer seeks solutions in drought-plagued Central Oregon

The pond is full again at Upingaksraq Spring Alaska Schreiner’s high desert farm. It’s a welcome sight for Schreiner, who owns Sakari Farms north of Bend.

Last summer, as drought punished Central Oregon, Schreiner’s irrigation district stopped delivering water. She watched as the pond gradually disappeared, leaving a mud puddle behind.

“I cried last year when I walked through the dry canal,” Schreiner said. “I was pissed. I was like, ‘There’s nothing we can do.’”

Schreiner has rights to a little over two acre-feet of water, which makes its way to the farm from the Deschutes River through a series of pipes and canals.

She only got a fraction of that amount last year.

This year is looking worse.

Gov. Kate Brown has already declared drought emergencies in 16 Oregon counties, including Deschutes. That’s the most ever for this time of year, and Oregon farmers like Schreiner are on edge.

“I’m not sure how to cope with going in this year knowing that there’s less water or no water,” Schreiner said.