Drought

The Tampa Water Department began purchasing water from Tampa Bay Water on April 20. Tampa Bay Water provides wholesale drinking water to Hillsborough County, Pasco County, Pinellas County, as well as New Port Richey, St. Petersburg, and Tampa. The water purchase has been made due to the recent below normal rainfall that has led to lower water levels in the Hillsborough River Reservoir. The dry season usually ends in May and will resume in October. City of Tampa (Fla.), April 20, 2023

An aquaponics farm in Brazos County relies on rainwater and grows their crops without soil. In 2022, they ran out of rainwater and began using city water for the plants, but the water was too acidic and caused the plants to die. They worked to come up with new, creative ways to recycle the water using massive fish tanks to use what water they have more efficiently. Drought has been ongoing in central Texas for more than a year with rainfall averaging less than 60% of normal. KXXV-TV ABC 25 Waco (Texas), April 20, 2023

Many bird species have chosen other migratory patterns this year due to the drought and have not arrived at Cheyenne Bottoms. Many less-mobile creatures, like turtles and reptiles, cannot easily escape and have to do their best to survive. Hays Post (Kan.), April 18, 2023

Despite plenty of rain and snow this winter, Utah’s aquifers, groundwater and major reservoirs have not recovered, so water conservation was still needed. KSL NewsRadio102.7 FM 1160 AM (Salt Lake City, Utah), April 19, 2023

Gov. Tina Kotek made drought emergency declarations for Wasco and Harney counties in Oregon as precipitation has been below normal since the start of water year 2023. The drought declarations let the Water Resources Department hasten review processes and reduce fee schedules. KTVZ-TV NewsChannel 21 (Ore.), April 19, 2023

Low water levels at Belton and Stillhouse lakes in Bell and Coryell counties prompted the closure of all designated swim beaches as they were out of the water. Boaters were urged to slow down and be cautious as the shallow waters meant that hazards were nearer to the lake surface. US Army Corps of Engineers (Baltimore, Md.), April 19, 2023

Drought persisted in the Great Plains and Midwest through the winter with little relief. As a result, farmers were second-guessing planting decisions, and consumers could be paying more for beef due to higher cattle slaughter rates in the past two years. KCUR-FM 89.3 (Kansas City, Mo.), April 19, 2023

Drought persisted in the Great Plains and Midwest through the winter with little relief. As a result, farmers were second-guessing planting decisions, and consumers could be paying more for beef due to higher cattle slaughter rates in the past two years. KCUR-FM 89.3 (Kansas City, Mo.), April 19, Drought is one of the factors involved in expensive beef prices in the U.S. Ranchers sold livestock when pastures were dry, reducing the number of beef cattle, which increases prices. CNN (Atlanta, Ga.), April 5, 2023

Cheney Lake was shallower than normal, causing recreationists to damage their pontoon boat. The boat ramp was also out of the water when it ought to be submerged. KAKE (Wichita, Kan.), April 14, 2023

Water allocations for the Klamath Project include 215,000 acre-feet from Upper Klamath Lake, 35,000 acre-feet from Gerber Reservoir, and 35,000 acre-feet from Clear Lake Reservoir, per an announcement by the Bureau of Reclamation. Precipitation was near normal this winter, but persistent drought has led to reduced water drainage from upstream areas. The Bureau of Reclamation will monitor conditions and revise allocations if needed. Amid a fourth consecutive year of drought in the basin, the Bureau will set aside $13 million to support drought resiliency programs and ecosystem enhancement projects. KTVL – Channel 10 News (Medford, Ore.), April 14, 2023

Drought gripping the northwest portion of Oklahoma has depleted water sources, forcing some ranchers to haul water for the livestock as little rain has fallen in the past 60 days. Some were selling cattle. RFD TV (Nashville, Tenn.), April 18, 2023

A wheat grower near Lyons in Rice County in west central Kansas stated that he was waiting for rain to plant. He reported that some of the wheat in the area did not germinate until later in the winter, due to dry conditions. Some of it germinated in January and February after some snow. In southwest Kansas, a lot of the wheat did not emerge in the fall and needs moisture to begin growing again, but is not receiving it, per the vice president of communications for Kansas Wheat. Last year was a dry one, too, for Kansas farmers, and by now, subsoil moisture has been depleted. AgWeb (Mexico, Mo.), April 15, 2023

Continuing drought, in combination with record high prices for inputs and a steady increase for beef has made it more challenging for producers to keep costs down. Drought and lack of pasture grass have led more ranchers to purchase feed for cattle from outside the area. Transportation costs for getting grain from the Midwest add up quickly also. Ranchers were still culling cattle. ABC 7 News (Amarillo, Texas), April 14, 2023

The new well permit moratorium in the Hill Country Underground Water Conservation District was allowed to expire April 6. The moratorium took effect on July 12, 2022. The district gave a warning for “critical depletion” of the Ellenberger Aquifer, a large component of the county’s water supply. The well moratorium included irrigation, municipal and commercial purposes within Gillespie County. It had been renewed in 90-day increments since last summer as rainfall to replenish the aquifer has been scarce. Fredericksburg Standard (Texas), April 12, 2023

The Texas Panhandle has had fewer rabies cases, due to drought. A veterinarian explained that skunks most commonly carry rabies, but drought has reduced their food supply, which has meant a smaller skunk population and, consequently, fewer cases of rabies. KFDA-TV Newschannel 10 (Amarillo, Texas), April 7, 2023

The Potter County Sheriff's Office asks people to pray for rain as Amarillo has received just 0.93 inches of rain through April 5. Potter County is in severe drought on the U.S. Drought Monitor. The Bent Willow Fire has burned 8,000 acres and was 65% contained. KVII ABC 7 News (Amarillo, Texas), April 5, 2023

Light rains were reported in Southwest Texas with some areas reporting up to 1.25 inches. Moisture should benefit crops, cool-season pastures, and pasture and rangeland conditions were improving. Wheat conditions were fair, and oat conditions were good. Grain corn planted earlier emerged in thick stands. All grain and forage sorghum fields were planted, and earlier planted rows were beginning to emerge. Cotton planting was underway. Irrigated crops were doing good despite the cooler weather. Early sandbur emergence was reported. Lack of rainfall and windy conditions were taking a toll on pastures and winter crops in drier areas. Burn bans continued in some areas. Average livestock body condition scores were 3-4 with little supplemental feeding taking place. Livestock markets were holding steady to high. Spring shearing was underway. Livestock and wildlife should benefit from the rains. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), March 28, 2023

Temperatures in West Central Texas were cooler than normal with drizzle mid-week, but no significant rainfall. Dry, windy conditions continued to persist. Counties that received some rain continued to see improvement in wheat and pastures, but drier areas continued to decline. Wheat was in the boot stage but continued to be short and could be an issue for harvest by combines. Stock tank levels were very low. Trees and grasses were greening up. Some corn was planted, and field preparations for cotton, sorghum and Sudan grass planting were underway. Pecans, hackberries, mesquites and most fruit trees were budding and leafing out. Rangeland and pasture conditions improved with recent moisture and spring green up of warm-season grasses. Native pasture grasses were trying to grow, but growth depended on moisture availability. Some pastures remained bare. Cows were calving. Livestock looked good and have stopped eating hay to look for green grass, but some producers continued to provide supplemental feed. Many stock tanks were critically low. The cattle market remained strong with the stocker heifers selling $3 higher per hundredweight and stocker steers and feeder heifers were $2-$3 higher. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), March 28, 2023

Colorado Parks and Wildlife lifted the mandatory fishing closure that had been in effect on the Yampa River downstream of Stagecoach Reservoir since late October. A 0.6-mile section of the river had been closed due to extremely low flow conditions. Steamboat Pilot & Today (Steamboat Springs, Colo.), April 4, 2023

A livestock owner along the Treasure Coast was feeding her cattle hay because a month of drought left the grass on the farm wilting or dead. She was praying for rain because the hay was expensive and an extra expense. She was also concerned about the rising fire danger and the safety of her animals. WFLX-TV FOX 29 West Palm Beach (Fla.), April 3, 2023