Drought

Drought conditions in central Alabama have resulted in more small fires as smokers carelessly discard cigarette butts, unaware of the rising fire danger. With October typically being the state’s driest month, drought could easily expand. WBRC-TV Fox 6 Birmingham (Ala.), Sept. 6, 2019

Exceedingly dry conditions prompted a county judge to implement a burn ban for Union County on Sept. 9. The county was in moderate drought. El Dorado News-Times (Ark.), Sept. 11, 2019

The Hot Springs Fire Department issued a citywide burn ban on Sept. 12 because rainfall has been below normal. The drought index for District 5 of the Arkansas Forestry Commission was 600 on Sept. 12, according to the AFC. HOT SPRINGSSR (Ark.), Sept. 13, 2019

As the Keetch-Byram Drought Index rose to 670, Montgomery County commissioners approved a burn ban for the county. Houston Chronicle (Texas), Sept. 10, 2019

More counties and parishes in the ArkLaTex region were under burn bans as dry weather persisted. The affected counties in Arkansas were Ashley, Columbia, Dallas, Drew, Hempstead, Howard, Lafayette, Miller, Nevada, Ouachita and Pike. The parishes in northern Louisiana were Bienville (for Lake Bistineau lakebed), Bossier (for Lake Bistineau lakebed), Sabine, Union and Webster (for Lake Bistineau lakebed). More East Texas counties had burn bans as well, including Cass, Gregg, Harrison, Marion, Morris, Rusk and Upshur. KSLA-TV Shreveport News 12 (La.), Sept. 10, 2019

Dry weather reduced the number of yellow chanterelles and other mushrooms growing in the area, but recent rainfall enhanced mushroom growth. Some events were canceled for the 2019 Fungus Festival, due to dry weather. Cordova Times (Alaska), Sept. 9, 2019

Most fields in West Central Texas being prepared for fall planting needed rain before plowing can occur. More supplemental feeding of livestock was underway, while most livestock body conditions were declining, due to dry low-protein pasture forages. North Texas e-News (Fannin, Texas), Sept. 11, 2019

Cotton in Far West Texas was beginning to wilt, due to heat and absence of rain. North Texas e-News (Fannin, Texas), Sept. 11, 2019

Drought and heat were stressing pastures in North Texas. Ponds also needed rain to refill them. Numerous counties adopted burn bans, given the dry conditions. North Texas e-News (Fannin, Texas), Sept. 11, 2019

Cattle in several areas of the Rolling Plains were receiving supplemental feed as pasture and rangeland conditions were fair to poor. Cotton needed rain to increase boll size and quality. North Texas e-News (Fannin, Texas), Sept. 11, 2019

Late planted cotton in Central Texas was suffering and manifesting signs of heat and/or drought stress. Pasture conditions continued to deteriorate, and stock tanks were getting low. The rice crop failed. Rangeland conditions were poor to very poor. North Texas e-News (Fannin, Texas), Sept. 11, 2019

All burn permits were suspended by the Durango Fire Protection District until further notice, due to dry conditions in the Four Corners. Agricultural burning was highly discouraged. Durango Herald (Colo.), Sept. 9, 2019

Montgomery County commissioners approved a burn ban for the county. According to the fire marshal, moderate drought conditions, combined with outdoor burning, would create a public safety hazard. The Keetch-Byram Drought Index for the county was 670. Houston Chronicle (Texas), Sept. 10, 2019

Farmers in the North Unit Irrigation District near Madras area left 25 percent to 30 percent of their fields fallow, due to the low level of Wickiup Reservoir, according to the general manager for the district. Wickiup Reservoir was at 11 percent in September and continued to fall, but only started the growing season at 66 percent, a record low for the reservoir at the start of the growing season. Several years of drought drew down the reservoir, but the Endangered Species Act and required water releases in the spring and fall have also lowered water storage. The Bend Bulletin (Ore.), Sept. 7, 2019

Heat and drought kept South Texas pasture and rangeland in poor condition, prompting producers to give supplemental feed to livestock and wildlife. Water tanks were drying out on ranches. North Texas e-News (Fannin, Texas), Sept. 11, 2019 Pasture and rangeland in South Texas were in poor condition and continued to suffer due to drought and heat. Most livestock producers were giving supplemental feed and hauling water. The fire danger was high, especially in ungrazed areas. Numerous burn bans were in effect. North Texas e-News (Fannin, Texas), Sept. 5, 2019

Some livestock producers in the Coastal Bend were giving their herds hay and protein, due to poor pasture conditions. Early weaned calves were sold at auction, and producers were striving to keep breeding stock where grazing was short. Stock ponds were running low, with producers worrying that livestock might get stuck around muddy ponds. North Texas e-News (Fannin, Texas), Sept. 11, 2019 Rangelands and pastures in Texas' Coastal Bend were suffering from a lack of rain. Many cattle producers were feeding hay because forages were limited. Some producers were weaning calves early. North Texas e-News (Fannin, Texas), Sept. 5, 2019

More than half of Texas’ 254 counties had burn bans as of Aug. 15, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service. Bryan-College Station Eagle (Texas), Aug. 23, 2019

Pasture and rangeland production in the South Plains decreased, due to low rainfall and heat. North Texas e-News (Fannin, Texas), Sept. 11, 2019 South Plains pastures were becoming very short as dry conditions persisted. The cotton crop also needed rain. Bryan-College Station Eagle (Texas), Aug. 20, 2019

Rangeland and pasture in Southwest Texas continued to deteriorate amid the hot, dry weather. Livestock and wildlife continued to receive supplemental feed. North Texas e-News (Fannin, Texas), Sept. 11, 2019 Southwest Texas producers began supplementing feed for livestock as rangeland and pastures remained dry. Ponds and creeks were nearing critical levels. Bryan-College Station Eagle (Texas), Aug. 27, 2019 Rangeland and pastures continued to deteriorate in Southwest Texas, where many stock tanks were hitting critical levels. Streams and creeks were very low to dry. Bryan-College Station Eagle (Texas), Aug. 20, 2019 Rangeland and pasture conditions deteriorated in Southwest Texas, and grasses turned brown. There were reports of dry river beds and grass fires. Bryan-College Station Eagle (Texas), Aug. 13, 2019

The city of Newport’s reservoirs have reached a critical low point with pumping to resume from the Siletz River. Newport voluntarily suspended pumping from the river on July 29, due to low flows. All non-essential water use was suspended and water conservation was encouraged. The cities of Newport, Toledo and Siletz and the Seal Rock Water District encourage water conservation until the flow of the Siletz River improves. News Lincoln County.com (Newport, Ore.), Sept. 7, 2019 Lincoln County residents were urged to limit their water use because the Siletz River was low. Newport officials stopped pumping water from the Siletz River, but will do so when necessary. Residents of Newport, Toledo and Siletz were asked to curb water use as much as possible. Newport News Times (Ore.), Aug. 6, 2019