Drought

There were fewer cases of Lyme disease in Maine over the summer, thought to be related to hot, dry weather. Through Nov. 12, there were just 1,069 cases of the disease, compared to 1,852 for all of 2017. Far fewer ticks were found in field surveys in 2018. Bangor Daily News (Maine), Nov. 14, 2018

An emergency bobber fishing regulation was in effect on the Chetco River from river mile 2.2 upriver to Nook Creek and will remain in effect until rain falls to sufficiently increase the river flow. My Outdoor Buddy (Minden, Nev.), Nov. 10, 2018

The Chetco River was flowing too low at 89.7 cubic feet per second to allow salmon to swim upstream to spawn, leaving the fish congregating in deeper pools. My Outdoor Buddy (Minden, Nev.), Nov. 10, 2018

Extreme heat and drought drove northwest Colorado’s worst fire season in recent years. More than 200 fires scorched 169 square miles in Moffat, Rio Blanco, Routt, Jackson and Grand counties in 2018. The area burned in 2018 was more than twice that burned in 2017 and more than in any fire season in the past 20 years. The Denver Post (Colo.), Nov. 11, 2018

The Camp Fire burned 203 square miles, destroyed 8,817 structures, including 7,600 single-family homes, and was responsible for 48 deaths, through the evening of Nov. 13. The blaze was 35 percent contained, according to Cal Fire. Des Moines Register (Iowa), Nov. 13, 2018 The Camp Fire became the deadliest fire in California's history, with the death toll at 42. Teams continued to search the burned area. Los Angeles Times (Calif.), Nov. 12, 2018 Dry conditions in California following a wet year that produced abundant vegetation has primed the state for wildfires that are destroying thousands of homes and resulting in the deaths of at least 31 people. In Butte County in northern California, the Camp Fire, which began on Nov. 8, charred 111,000 acres, consumed more than 6,700 homes and businesses, killed at least 29 people and devastated the town of Paradise. The Camp Fire was 25 percent contained. ABC News Radio (New York), Nov. 12, 2018

The Woolsey fire burned 151 square miles, consumed more than 430 homes, businesses and other buildings and took two lives. The blaze was 40 percent contained. Des Moines Register (Iowa), Nov. 13, 2018 Continuing drought in California, ample vegetation and strong winds have set the stage for immense wildfires in southern California, where the Woolsey and Hill fires forced the evacuation of several communities in Los Angeles and Ventura counties, including Malibu and Calabasas. The Woolsey fire blackened 85,500 acres, killed two people, destroyed 177 homes and was 10 percent contained. The Hill fire was 70 percent contained. ABC News Radio (New York), Nov. 12, 2018

Pacific Gas & Electric has been striving to remove trees and vegetation from the vicinity of its power lines to reduce the fire danger, according to spokesperson Paul Moreno in an email to The Sacramento Bee in October. “In response to the increased risk of fire danger brought on by climate change and drought, we are doing more to ensure PG&E facilities are safe and reliable,” Moreno wrote. The Sacramento Bee (Calif.), Nov. 9, 2018

The Mancos Conservation District responded to worsening drought conditions in March 2018 by beginning a river monitoring program to keep Mancos landowners and other locals informed about the river’s condition. The Cortez Journal (Colo.), Nov. 7, 2018

The Snyderville Basin Planning Commission intended to review its code for landscaping planning after learning of a Kimball Junction business installing grass in a sagebrush steppe. Nearly all of Utah was in some stage of drought. KPCW-FM 88.1 & 91.9 (Park City, Utah), Nov. 2, 2018

Outdoor burning was banned within Farmington city limits and will remain so until further notice, according to Fire Chief David Burke. Yard waste should be taken to the landfill rather than burned. Farmington Daily Times (N.M.), May 9, 2018

The Farmington City Council amended surcharges that would be implemented if the city were to enter stage 3 water restrictions. Farmington Daily Times (N.M.), May 23, 2018

The San Juan County Commissioner approved a ban on outdoor burning on May 22 as drought intensified. Farmington Daily Times (N.M.), May 23, 2018

Fireworks and open burning were banned in Aztec, due to drought and the heightened fire danger. Farmington Daily Times (N.M.), June 15, 2018

Farmington and Bloomfield had ordinances banning as many fireworks as they legally could as drought elevated the fire danger. The public was asked to attend public displays rather than light their own. Officials in Bloomfield were looking for an alternate, safer site with less bosque-type vegetation for the public display. Farmington Daily Times (N.M.), June 15, 2018

Monticello’s secondary water reservoir ran dry, forcing the city to begin drawing water from the reserve water stored in Loyds Lake. During a dry year, the city might begin pumping water from Loyds Lake in July, but the switch came exceptionally early this year as the area saw almost no runoff from snowpack in the Abajo Mountains. San Juan Record (Utah), May 15, 2018

San Juan County officials enacted fire restrictions on public lands in the region as extreme drought increased the fire danger. The restrictions encompassed private land in all unincorporated parts of the county, in addition to all lands under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service and National Park Service. San Juan Record (Utah), June 26, 2018

Water customers of the Montezuma Valley Irrigation Co. were receiving just 36 inches or 3 acre-feet per share, rather than the usual full allocation of 48 inches or 4 acre-feet per share. Less water than normal was flowing in the Dolores River after meager winter snowpack and a summer of drought. The Durango Herald (Colo.), July 26, 2018

Residents of Bayfield were only permitted to water every other day and only during evening or nighttime hours to preserve its water supplies, according to Town Manager Chris LeMay. La Plata County was in exceptional drought. Durango Herald (Colo.), May 30, 2018

Some La Plata County wells ran dry as the county endured exceptional drought. Durango Herald (Colo.), May 30, 2018

Vallecito Reservoir managers warned boat owners to remove their vessels from the water while the dock was still useable as the lake level fell. The lake was still open and motorized boats may be launched without the assistance of the dock. Due to downstream water demands, the reservoir was releasing 6,000 acre-feet per week, allowing the water level to fall by about 6 inches weekly. The concrete ramp for the courtesy dock would soon be dry. Pine River Times (Durango, Colo.), July 16, 2018