A round hay bale in Bowen Valley just south of Baker City in July 2026. (Lisa Britton/Baker City Herald)Swipe or click to see moreA hay baler at work in Bowen Valley just south of Baker City in July 2026. Sullivan, who lives near Hereford in the Burnt River Valley south of Baker City, ticked off a litany of drought-caused problems. As of July 21, the majority of Baker County, including the Burnt River country, was in severe drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. This May was the fourth-driest on record at the Baker City Municipal Airport, and June’s rainfall total was 39% of average.