On KUMA’s Coffee Hour, Kyle Waggoner of the Umatilla County Soil and Water Conservation District discussed navigating 2026’s drought emergency alongside "flash" flood risks. Waggoner emphasized shifting from seasonal reactions to multi-year conservation due to record-low snowpack.

Reflecting on 2019–2020 floods, he highlighted improved coordination with Pendleton emergency services and infrastructure projects, like the Kirk Avenue bridge redesign, to improve water conveyance. Regarding McKay Creek, Waggoner reassured residents that restoring fish passage at the dam won't increase local flood risks. Ultimately, the SWCD is prioritizing long-term soil health and resilient infrastructure to manage the region’s increasingly erratic climate whiplash.