Drought

More than 160 citations have been issued for water restriction violations in the past three months since the city entered a critical stage of drought as Corpus Christi’s water supply levels dropped. Fines have totaled tens of thousands of dollars. Caller Times (Corpus Christi, Texas), March 23, 2025

More than 230 critically endangered Laurel Dace were returned to their natural habitat in Bumbee Creek and Youngs Creek atop Walden Ridge in Hamilton County, where the minnows were rescued as the streams they inhabited went dry during the summer of 2024. News Channel 9 (Chattanooga, Tenn.), March 24, 2025 Parched streams atop Walden Ridge carried much less water than usual, leading to an emergency rescue of the federally endangered Laurel Dace to avert their extinction. The Tennessee Aquarium, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the University of Georgia’s River Basin Center worked in coordination with the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency to relocate 105 adult fish to the Tennessee Aquarium Conservation Institute in Chattanooga. WTVC-TV ABC 9 Chattanooga (Tenn.), Aug 22, 2024

One benefit of the drought in North Carolina was that it was allowing the stream bank repair work and bridge and road infrastructure construction to proceed in the western part of the state. The dry weather in western North Carolina has also increased the fire danger. The state Forest Service was fighting two wildfires in Polk County. Carolina Public Press (Asheville, N.C.), March 21, 2025

Drought and flood posed challenges for North Carolina farmers in 2024, so they were hoping desperately for a better growing season in 2025. Corn growers, in particular, were hoping for a better year after losses in the hundreds of millions last year. Farmers were praying for rain, remarked the extension director for Carteret County. Carolina Public Press (Asheville, N.C.), March 21, 2025

A South Dakota farmer has diversified his business model by welcoming hunters and planting warm season grasses. KXLG FM 99.1 (Watertown, S.D.), March 17, 2025

Strong winds in drought-stricken areas of the southern U.S. have picked up dust and carried it to other parts of the country. Rain has deposited the dust, leaving spots on cars and windows. KTVO (Kirksville, Mo.), March 18, 2025

The South Texas Botanical Gardens & Nature Center's annual Big Bloom Plant Sale has been canceled due to the drought in the Corpus Christi area. Organizers thought that it would be irresponsible to encourage plant purchases while water conservation was being urged. The sale is typically held the first Saturday in April. Caller Times (Corpus Christi, Texas), March 19, 2025

A burn ban was issued for Newton County on March 18 due to the abundance of fuel, extreme dry conditions and high winds across the state of Texas and in the county. The order will remain in effect through March 25 and could be extended. KBMT Channel 12 Online (Beaumont, Texas), March 18, 2025

Beeville authorities were urging the public to conserve water to hopefully avoid a water crisis by summer. The Nueces River Authority estimated that the community could run out of water as early as this summer, while others think a water crisis could be further away. Most of the city's water supply comes from Lake Corpus nearly 22 miles away and is supplemented by wells drilled at Chase Field. The wells draw nearly a million gallons a day and were initially intended as a secondary source. A Beeville councilman stressed that the aim is to find a new primary source of water rather than just augmenting their water supply. Beeville was currently in Stage 3 water restrictions, which prohibit lawn watering and car washing. Beeville Bee-Picayune (Texas), March 16, 2025

Maui County’s Department of Water Supply enacted a Stage 1 water shortage on Tuesday, Sept. 3 and the conservation will help lower water demand by 10%. The shortage stems from heavy demand which strained supply over the summer. Hawaii News Now, Sept. 7, 2024

Water users in the Kennewick Irrigation District were urged to adopt a voluntary watering schedule as drought persists. NBCRightNow.com (Kennewick, Wash.), March 6, 2025

The Borough of Greencastle was in a one-week burn ban that began on the morning of March 13. Antrim Township was in a 30-day burn ban that started on March 11. Washington Township also had a burn ban that began March 10. Echo-Pilot (Greencastle, Pa.), March 13, 2025

The Dover Borough Water System was under mandatory conservation, which was enacted in October. York Dispatch (Pa.), March 13, 2025

The Stewartstown Borough Water Authority was asking for voluntary water conservation. York Dispatch (Pa.), March 13, 2025

Lower Windsor Township was under a burn ban until further notice due to the forecast for dry weather. All open burning was prohibited. York Dispatch (Pa.), March 13, 2025

North Middleton Township authorities in Cumberland County have announced a 30-day burn ban effective March 12 after a meeting between the Township Fire Chief and Emergency Management Coordinator. The burn ban was issued because the drought conditions elevated the wildfire danger. FOX 43 (York, Pa.), March 13, 2025

Somerset County was under a burn ban and will remain so until significant rain falls. WMDT-TV 47 Delmarva (Salisbury, Md.), March 13, 2025

Schuylkill and Berks counties remained in a drought warning since Nov. 1, while 33 other counties were still in a drought watch that began on the same date. Republican Herald (Pottsville, Pa.), Feb 19, 2025 The Pennsylvania Drought Task Force announced drought watch and warning statuses for counties in the southwest and southeastern parts of the state. Berks and Schuylkill counties were in a drought warning. Under a drought watch, residents were encouraged to voluntarily curb their water use by 5% to 10%. Under a drought warning, water users were urged to reduce their water use by 10% to 15%. WPXI-TV NBC 11 Pittsburgh (Pa.), Nov 1, 2024

The planting season begins in just weeks in eastern Ohio. Given the severe drought conditions that the area endured in 2024, ag experts were concerned about the upcoming growing season. "I think that our livestock producers and rural well owners still need to use caution because those ground water supplies are severely depleted and they're taking a while for springs to recharge to what they initially were as well as some of our wells,” Jefferson County Soil and Water District District Administrator Wendee Dodds said. “So, people just need to be very cautious of their water usage." Some wells and springs went dry in November and December, according to an OSU Extension ag and natural resources educator. WTOV9 FOX (Steubenville, Ohio), March 12, 2025

Drought in the Concho Valley has kept bass size smaller than usual, according to Texas Parks and Wildlife biologists. Concho Valley Homepage (San Angelo, Texas), March 5, 2025