2026 Inland Rogue Water Webinar Series

Following the Rogue Water Forum in September 2025, the Inland Rogue Water Resiliency Group and partner organizations are hosting a series of online webinars and discussions for Inland Rogue communities to share ideas, learn together, and prepare for a more water-scarce future.

The Webinars

Groundwater and Wells in the Inland Rogue, August 12th, 2026

Do you rely on a well in Jackson County?

Learn more about how the Inland Rogue’s unique groundwater conditions affect local wells and what well owners can do to better understand and care for their systems.

Topics covered include:

  • Groundwater conditions in the Inland Rogue
  • What well owners and professionals are seeing on the ground
  • Well maintenance and care
  • Resources available to support well owners

Presenters:

  • Grayson Fish, Oregon Water Resources Department Hydrogeologist
  • Kevin Gill of Clouser Drilling
Helpful Links and Info from the Groundwater and Wells Presentation: 

Helpful Links from the Presentation:

Oregon Water Resources Department (OWRD) Well Resources Water Well Owner’s Handbook: https://www.oregon.gov/owrd/WRDPublications1/le8316.pdf

Dry Well Reporting: https://www.oregon.gov/owrd/programs/GWWL/Pages/drywell.aspx

Groundwater and Wells: https://www.oregon.gov/OWRD/PROGRAMS/GWWL/Pages/default.aspx

All About Water Wells: https://clouserdrilling.com/well-owner-resources/all-about-water-wells/

Water Well Resources: https://clouserdrilling.com/well-owner-resources/water-well-resources/

OSU Well Water Program: https://wellwater.oregonstate.edu/

Oregon Health Authority’s (OHA’s) Domestic Well Safety Program: https://www.oregon.gov/oha/ph/HealthyEnvironments/DrinkingWater/SourceWater/DomesticWellSafety/Pages/index.aspx

New USGS Cooperative Geology Map (be patient, it takes time to load) https://ngmdb.usgs.gov/nationalgeology/#lat=37.0000&lng=-97.5000&zoom=4&theme=esurf&symbology=synthesis

Mobile Geology App is called Rockd and is in the app store- Map overlays from the University of Wisconsin https://rockd.org/

Well Abandonment, Repair, and Replacement Fund (WARRF)

Grants up to $40K to individual homeowners or members of a federally recognized tribe in Oregon. Grants help with cost to repair or replace and/or abandon a household well.

Requirements include:

  • Owned by someone of low- to moderate-income
  • Well is dry and in a county with a 2026 Governor Drought Declaration or damaged by wildfire
  • Unable to supply enough water for essential in-home use (drinking, cooking, and bathing)

Visit: owrd.info/warrf
https://www.oregon.gov/owrd/programs/GWWL/WARRF/Pages/default.aspx

Email: OWRD.Well.Funding@water.oregon.gov

Phone: 503-779-5763

 

Drought and Water Availability Conditions in the Inland Rogue, June 26th, 2026

This webinar provides an overview of current drought and water availability conditions in the Inland Rogue, including how drought is monitored, how Oregon drought declarations work, and where residents, land managers, water users, and community partners can find reliable water supply information.

Topics covered include drought conditions and outlooks, streamflow and reservoir information, ORS 536 and ORS 401 drought/emergency declarations, water right drought tools, groundwater and streamflow data, county drought response, and emergency preparedness resources.

Presenters:

  • Cameron Greenwood, Oregon Water Resources Department
  • Curtis Peetz, Oregon Department of Emergency Management
  • Shavon Haynes, District 13 Watermaster, Oregon Water Resources Department Delaney
  • Richmond, Jackson County Emergency Manager
Useful Drought Resource Links provided in the webinar: 

U.S. Drought Monitor – Oregon Current Map
https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/CurrentMap/StateDroughtMonitor.aspx?OR

Rogue Basin Teacup Diagram – US Army Corps of Engineers
https://www.nwd-wc.usace.army.mil/nwp/teacup/rogue/

OWRD Drought Declaration Status Map
https://apps.wrd.state.or.us/apps/WR/drought_dashboard/Default.aspx

Sign up for OWRD biweekly water supply and drought conditions reports
https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/ORWRD/subscriber/new?preferences=true

OWRD drought report archive
https://apps.wrd.state.or.us/apps/wr/wr_drought/current_updates.aspx

Near real-time streamflow data
https://apps.wrd.state.or.us/apps/sw/hydro_near_real_time/

Groundwater map
https://apps.wrd.state.or.us/apps/gw/gw_info/gw_map/Default.aspx

OWRD Drought Watch
https://www.oregon.gov/owrd/programs/climate/droughtwatch/pages/default.aspx

Snow and Snowpack data
https://nwcc-apps.sc.egov.usda.gov/imap

USDA FSA disaster assistance programs
https://www.fsa.usda.gov/resources/programs/disaster-assistance-programs

Oregon Department of Agriculture grants
https://www.oregon.gov/oda/agriculture/Pages/Grants.aspx

SAMHSA- mental health support
https://www.samhsa.gov/

Medford Water supply outlook
https://www.medfordwater.org/your-water/water-supply-outlook/

Jackson County Emergency Management
https://readyjacksonco.com/ Jackson County

Community Long-Term Recovery Group / RV COAD
https://jccltrg.org/

 

Municipal Drinking Water Supplies in the Rogue Valley - Present and Future - Monday, April 20th

Municipal water suppliers and utilities provide drinking water for more than 200,000 people in the Inland Rogue River Basin, from the Illinois River to the headwaters of the Rogue near Crater Lake. People depend on ample, reliable, and safe drinking water. Presenters will discuss the status of drinking water supplies in the Rogue, and challenges for the future.

Presenters

  • John Speece - Coordinator, Rogue Drinking Water Partnership & Project Manager, Rogue River Watershed Council
  • Arlo Todd - Watershed Coordinator, Medford Water Commission

 

Place-Based Water Planning Webinar: an Introduction for the Inland Rogue - January 16, 2026

This webinar is a follow-up to the Rogue Water Forum for those interested in learning more about Place-Based Water Planning and how it could benefit the Inland Rogue.

Place-Based Water Planning (PBWP) is a locally led process designed to help regions identify their needs and priorities for balancing future demands on both instream and out‑of‑stream water resources. The Oregon Water Resources Department collaborates with these locally led planning groups and there are grants available to support the process. Jackson Soil and Water Conservation District and the Rogue River Watershed Council convened this webinar to explore how a PBWP approach could be applied in the Inland Rogue.

The webinar features an overview of the PBWP program and funding framework from Sue Parrish and Lili Prahl with the Oregon Water Resources Department, and  Herb Winters, District Manager, Gilliam Soil and Water Conservation District, highlighting lessons learned from an active PBWP project.

 Webinar Notes:

Place Based Water Planning Webinar Notes_2026-01-30.pdf