When Oregonians think about how much fresh water we have in the West Coast, images of the many lakes and rivers blur the bigger picture.

According to Oregon.gov, Oregon is renowned for its water with more than 100,000 miles of streams and rivers, 360 miles of coastline, and more than 1,400 named lakes. Despite this, Oregon, alongside much of the Western United States, has been experiencing one of the worst megadroughts in history. 

Then, we must remember that globally, only 3% of water is freshwater, and 20% of that is found in the Great Lakes of Canada and the USA.

Just in the beginning of Dec. 2024, nearly 105,000 Oregon residents lived in an area of drought according to the drought monitor. This leads to impacts on community, agricultural yields, and the health of an ecosystem’s water supplies. 

When we compare Oregon to nearby states like Nevada and California, even with the hardships some southern Oregonians may face, they still live in a much better state of being. A report from December 2024 states that California’s population in drought was 2.6 million.

With this in mind, as reported by the National Centers for Environmental Information, “Moderate to Exceptional drought covers about 58.6% of the Pacific Northwest.” What’s not pictured is how drought can hurt life. 

Droughts create conditions and environments that limit and hurt human health. For instance, California’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment provides examples such as degraded drinking water quality, air pollution from wildfires, and dust storms. This also includes an increased exposure to toxins in the environment, including bacteria and fungus that can create Valley Fever, a lung infection to humans and animals. 

By 2040, 1 in 4 children globally will struggle with water shortages and live in areas with “extremely high water stress.” 

If Oregonians don’t protect what we have, we endanger what little water we have left.

But solutions are still available and still applicable. Citizens can help by keeping their personal water usage to only what is necessary, allowing the supply of water to be more evenly and efficiently distributed to everyone that needs it.

Regulating the amount of water used in domestic activities and paying attention to overall water usage are good ways to conserve water in everyday life.

Additionally, Oregonians can help and support conservation efforts by working with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. This organization is effective and prioritizes projects that successfully implement the Oregon Conservation Strategy, an outline that protects wildlife and habitats by investing in outdoor recreation. 

All of us can collaborate to help spread awareness of the dwindling amount of freshwater supply in Oregon and beyond, simply by spreading awareness to friends and family and supporting a positive outlook. 

We have the means and the technology to support a better future through conservation. Let’s act today for tomorrow.