Drought

November runoff into the Missouri River Basin above Sioux City was 540,000 acre-feet, or 51% of average, lowering the 2022 runoff forecast to 19.0 MAF, 74% of the average of 25.7 MAF. Months of dry weather across the upper plains have led to reduced runoff into the river and its six reservoirs, which were lower than normal for this time of year. Sioux City Journal (Iowa), Dec 7, 2022

Releases from Gavins Point Dam near Yankton, South Dakota, were at 13,000 cubic feet per second and will be reduced to the minimum winter rate of 12,000 cfs by Dec. 11, per the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Months of dry weather across the upper plains have led to reduced runoff into the river and its six reservoirs, which were lower than normal for this time of year. Water storage in the reservoir system was 46 million acre-feet, considerably below the flood control zone that begins at 56.1 MAF, which is the annual year-end target level. November runoff into the river basin above Sioux City was 540,000 acre-feet, or 51% of average, lowering the 2022 runoff forecast to 19.0 MAF, 74% of the average of 25.7 MAF. Water conservation measures in effect will continue into 2023, according to the corps, and water releases in the spring likely will be increased to provide only minimal support to navigation farther downstream. Sioux City Journal (Iowa), Dec 7, 2022

Texans have taken to "cowpooling," or buying beef in bulk with others and splitting the cost in an effort to make beef purchases more economical. Drought led so many cattle producers to sell cattle in 2022, so cattle numbers were down, and prices for beef were expected to rise in 2023, leading people to devise ways to keep costs down where possible. KWTX-TV 10 News Waco (Texas), Dec 7, 2022

Residents of Glenn and Tehama counties with dry wells may get free water deliveries through the North Valley Community Foundation, which received a $5 million grant as part of a statewide drought relief package. This would provide up to 60 gallons of drinking water to be delivered each month as well as up to 2,500 gallons of nonpotable water. More than 422 households in Glenn County and 142 in Tehama County have reported dry or intermittent wells. The dry wells were concentrated in the Orland and Corning areas. KRCR-TV ABC 7 (Redding, Calif.), Dec 6, 2022

A record low number of endangered winter-run Chinook salmon fry migrated down the Sacramento River this year, according to preliminary data collected by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at Red Bluff Diversion Dam. An estimated 158,764 fry, or baby salmon, have made it from below Keswick Dam to Red Bluff this year, compared to an average of 1.3 million winter Chinook salmon. This is the second straight year that such low numbers of Chinooks were reported. In 2021, an estimated 557,652 winter Chinook swam down the river to Red Bluff. Conditions were very difficult that year as the water was low and warm due to water being diverted to irrigators, resulting in massive fry mortality. The low numbers this year were due to fewer adult Chinooks arriving to spawn in the river, compared to 2021, and a thiamine deficiency from a diet high in anchovies. The hatchery staff processed 16 million eggs altogether with a goal of producing 7.5 million salmon smolts, including the 1.5 million additional fish allocated for the drought. Stockton Record (Calif.), Dec 6, 2022

Santa Clara Valley Water District officials sent out more than 1,600 notices to customers who allegedly violated the waste water policy, which most often is allowing water to runoff onto the street or sidewalk from lawn irrigation. The district has not issued any fines. San Francisco Chronicle (Calif.), Dec. 7, 2022 Water users in Santa Clara County could be fined $500, or even up to $10,000, as the Santa Clara Valley Water District enacted new drought rules to warn and eventually fine property owners who do not obey the outdoor watering rules, which take effect June 1. Residents who observe water waste can contact the district to report it. A first violation will result in a letter being sent. A fine may follow a third violation, but violators would have to egregiously overwater and blatantly refuse to obey the water rules to be fined $10,000. The water district, however, only has three water cops for the entire county to enforce water rules. The district’s 10 reservoirs in Santa Clara County were just 23% full. The San Jose Mercury News (Calif.), May 25, 2022

Little rain has fallen in Oklahoma in months, leaving pastures bare and ponds dry. Hay was scarce, leading farmers to consider alternatives to get the cattle through the winter. The dryness has gripped the state since August 2021 with an intense flash drought this summer that seared the state anew. O’Colly (Stillwater, Okla.), Dec 1, 2022

Extreme drought has been driving coyotes to venture into Kansas towns in search of food and water, per Kansas Wildlife and Parks Department Game Wardens. WIBW-TV 13 (Topeka, Kan.), Dec 6, 2022

A Christmas tree farm in North Andover opened and chose to close after four hours of business, due to drought’s impact on the farm’s trees. The owner stated that he planted 5,000 juvenile Christmas trees in the spring, but after an intense growing season of drought, all of the trees were dead. Many of the mature trees suffered from insufficient water, which may cause them to drop their needles more quickly once they have been cut. The tree farm owner anticipated having fewer tall trees for sale this season and ordered 2,000 pre—cut trees from Quebec, Canada. A Christmas tree grower in Haverhill reported that her supply of cut-your-own trees was sold out in three days. The farm lost a couple thousand younger trees. The Eagle-Tribune (North Andover, Mass.), Dec 4, 2022

The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation began reducing water releases from the Glen Canyon Dam to keep more water in Lake Powell until spring runoff begins. From December 2022 through April 2023, the monthly adjustments will amount to 523,000 acre-feet, which will increase the level of Lake Powell by nearly 10 feet. That volume of water will be sent to Lake Mead from June 2023 to September 2023. These adjustments are compatible with the Drought Response Operations Agreement, signed in 2019. A Drought Response Operations Plan is also in the works for 2023 and will incorporate information about additional water releases to Lake Powell. ABC4 (Salt Lake City, Utah), Dec 2, 2022

Severe drought in Maine led one Christmas tree grower in Wells to water his 3,000 newly planted trees by hand in an effort to keep them alive. Six of the last eight years have been particularly dry. An irrigation system is too pricey for a tree farm his size, so he continues to rely on rain and hand-watering to keep his trees alive. Denver7 (Colo.), Dec 5, 2022

A raspberry and blackberry farm in Corrales suffered from insufficient -water and extreme heat, resulting in fewer berries and a cancelation of the U-Pick Program when customers are invited to pick their own berries. To adapt to the challenging growing season, the proprietors used resources that would have been used for the U-Pick Program and instead opened an ice cream shop. Albuquerque Journal (N.M.), Dec 5, 2022

Sioux Falls’ water source, the Big Sioux River, has a high dissolved solids content, exceeding standards set by the Environmental Protection Agency. A city water official stated that drought was responsible for the increased mineral content. The water was being treated to remove the salt and was safe to drink. The dissolved solids content was over 500 milligrams per liter, and the EPA advises systems to keep the content between 300 and 500 mg/l. Other sources of drinking water in the report failing to meet the EPA standards include a section of the James River that Huron uses, and lengths of the Maple River and Elm River used by Aberdeen. Firesteel Creek and Lake Mitchell were also not meeting EPA standards, but they are emergency backups for the City of Mitchell and were not in use. South Dakota Searchlight (Pierre, S.D.), Dec 4, 2022

A Christmas tree grower in Seguin stated that he lost 25% to 30% of the trees planted last year. KEYE-TV We are Austin.com (Texas), Nov 30, 2022

Fir trees in Oregon and Washington died in record-breaking numbers in 2022 with more than 1.23 million acres, or over 1,900 square miles, affected in Oregon and Washington. In Oregon alone, the Forest Service found dead firs on about 1.1 million acres, or over 1,700 square miles, of forest. Researchers refer to the event as “Firmageddon” as this is the largest die-off on record for fir trees in the two states. The worst-affected areas were the Fremont, Winema, Ochoco and Malheur national forests, with the Fremont National Forest being hit the hardest. The cause of the tree deaths appears to be drought in combination with insects and fungal diseases, but the results are preliminary and require further analysis. Extreme heat may also be a possible cause. Within some areas, up to 50% or more trees have died. Such areas of intense tree death occurred in forests in central to southern Oregon. The type of fir trees affected included only those in the genus Abies, so Douglas fir trees, not considered to be a true fir, were not affected. Die-offs were reported for grand fir, white fir, red fir, noble fir and the hybrid Shasta red fir. The largest mortality was observed at lower elevations where grand fir and white fir are plentiful, and white fir was the hardest hit species. Douglas fir trees were experiencing a die-off also, but to a lesser extent with 450,000 acres, or over 700 square miles, of Douglas fir affected, mostly in southwestern Oregon. Washington has also seen about 230,000 acres, or nearly 360 square miles, die off. It appears that drought weakens the trees, which then were more susceptible to insects and possibly fungal attack. The Register Guard (Eugene, Ore.), Dec 1, 2022

Many Kansas ranchers, particularly in the southern and western parts of the state, were selling more cattle than usual to avoid having to feed them through the winter. In El Dorado, the auction owner and operator stated that most of the cow-calf operations were culling many animals like the older or less productive cows. Input costs for feed and hay were high, and drought has left pasture grass short. Hay prices were two to three times the normal price. KWCH 12 (Wichita, Kan.), Nov 30, 2022

Deep Eddy Pool was not opening on time in the morning as drought lowered well levels, so it was taking longer for the pool to refill from several on-site wells. The spring-fed pool is drained each evening and refilled with clean water the next day. Regular maintenance in January may help. The wells have also become clogged with a gunky substance. Austin Monitor (Texas), Dec 1, 2022

A survey of California urban water agencies representing about 90% of the state’s population showed that about 18%, or 73 of the 414 water suppliers, indicated that they will soon face potential shortages. Most of the agencies that reported potential water shortages are in California’s most populated hydrologic areas, like Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego and the San Francisco Bay Area. The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California reported a potential shortage of 43%, but does not take into account the emergency conservation orders in place, like banning outdoor watering, and stored water. CNN (Atlanta, Ga.), Nov 30, 2022

Houston is prepared to spend more than double its annual spending for waterline repairs after two years of pipe breaks and leaks, partly due to drought. From January through August of 2022, Houston lost nearly 20 billion gallons, which amounts to about $75 million in potential revenue for the water utility system. The City Council on Nov. 30 approved six emergency purchases related to water infrastructure maintenance totaling $21 million. In the prior five fiscal years, the city spent $9 to $10 million annually to fix broken water pipes, per city records. Such emergency purchases are common during a drought, when extreme heat and dryness put pressure on the pipes due to shifting soils, according to a Houston Public Works spokesperson. Houston Chronicle (Texas), Nov 30, 2022

The Bullfrog North Boat Ramp at Lake Powell closed to houseboats and other large vessels on Nov. 21 as the water level continued to fall. Smaller vessels may still use the ramp. The Wahweap Stateline Auxiliary Launch Ramp is the only ramp available for large vessels. Lake Powell is 3,528.1 feet above sea level, or about 14 feet lower than this time in 2021, and is about 23.5% full. KSL.com (Salt Lake City, Utah), Nov 30, 2022