Drought

To be better prepared to fight wildfires, state officials announced nearly $20 million in additional funding for the addition of air support, to improve dispatch services, and use new satellite technology that will show the location of firetrucks and aircraft around a fire. The additional state contracts will add two Type 1 helicopters, a large air tanker and extend the contract of another air tanker, the governor stated. The Colorado Springs Gazette (Colo.), April 24, 2022

Vegetation in El Paso County is tinder dry, elevating the April fire risk to summer levels or like the middle of June. On April 22, a welding accident sparked a wildfire near InterQuest Parkway and Interstate 25 that burned 17 acres and caused the evacuation of 500 homes. In just the past week, evacuations were ordered in five communities and Eagle County. The Colorado Springs Gazette (Colo.), April 24, 2022

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham issued an emergency fire order, urging city and county leaders to implement local fireworks bans. The governor does not have the authority to ban fireworks statewide. She also requested that federal officials deliver more resources as 93% of the state was enduring severe drought. Days ago, Lujan Grisham issued emergency orders freeing up to $750,000 in state funds for five different counties — Mora, Valencia, Lincoln, Colfax and San Miguel. Wildfires have already destroyed more than 200 structures, and two large blazes merged and were responsible for blackening more than 56,000 acres. Albuquerque Journal (N.M.), April 25, 2022

The Climate Action and Response Committee met on April 8 after a considerable increase in drought in Nebraska on a previous release of the U.S. Drought Monitor. The committee assesses climate conditions and reports to the governor. Representatives of the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency, the U.S. Drought and Mitigation Center, the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources, UNL Cooperative Extension, UNL’s Conservation and Survey Division attend the meeting. Nebraska farmers are assessing the drought and making critical decisions about crop planting and insurance levels as the growing season approaches. The Sidney Sun-Telegraph (Neb.), April 20, 2022

Moisture was insufficient in Lincoln County. Mountain snowpack was low and irrigation levels were too low for crop production. Kiowa County Press (Eads, Colo.), April 19, 2022

South Texas farmers are spending extra money to cope with the challenges of drought. One grower pays more than $300 monthly for irrigation water. Farmers spend more for feed and have to adapt when they run out of grass. Chickens and ducks eat bugs, but with drought, there is no grass, which is where the insects usually reside. A grass-fed beef producer grows his own hay, but with no rain falling, hay is not abundant. Many growers are praying for rain. KIII-TV3 South Texas (Corpus Christi, Texas), April 23, 2022

Central Texas Groundwater Conservation District entered Stage 3 drought conditions on April 19. Under Stage 3, voluntary conservation of 20% is recommended, so the public is asked to reduce outdoor water use. DailyTrib.com (Marble Falls, Texas), April 20, 2022

Hill Air Force Base is receiving less water from Weber Basin Water Conservancy District due to low snowpack and extremely low runoff in recent years. WBWCD reduced Hill’s secondary water allocations by 60% and its culinary water allocation by 48.6% overall. Furthermore, any water used above and beyond the allocation will be billed at 200% of the contracted value. Hill Air Force Base (Weber County, Utah), April 20, 2022

The Contra Costa Water District called for customers to conserve 15% compared to 2020 levels. A 15% drought surcharge will also be added to bills beginning July 1. The surcharge will encourage conservation and help recover revenue from lower water sales. The Mercury News (San Jose, Calif.), April 21, 2022

Santa Clara residents may water landscaping only two days per week, instead of three. The city will also expand public information and increase water waste patrols. The Mercury News (San Jose, Calif.), April 21, 2022

Recreational fires are prohibited in Sarasota County and the cities of Venice and North Port. The burn ban prohibits all outdoor burning that hasn't been permitted by the Florida Forest Service. The Venice and North Port Fire Rescue Departments also issued citywide recreational burn bans. Sarasota Herald-Tribune (Fla.), April 15, 2022

Adverse weather in the Plains like freezing temperatures can damage the wheat as it is emerging from dormancy. Drought in Nebraska and Kansas was keeping the crop condition ratings low. While the snow in the Dakotas is providing some moisture, it could harm the hard red winter wheat as it comes out of dormancy. Brownfield Online (Jefferson City, Mo.), April 19, 2022

Cotton futures are at rare high prices due to historic drought gripping parts of Texas with prices over $140 for May cotton. Prospects for the Texas cotton crop are bleak, given the intensity of the dryness and lack of subsoil moisture. Cotton may be planted, but without rain in the next month, the cotton is not likely to grow. Abandonment rates may be high. India has opened imports to cotton with no import duty given the high prices, which has moved the market higher. AgWeb (Mexico, Mo.), April 17, 2022

The tap water in Bountiful is green, but it’s safe to drink. The green-tinted water comes from snowmelt running over green vegetation before it gets to the treatment plant, but the plant is not equipped to remove the color. Due to the extreme drought, the city is using the snowmelt and is sparing the aquifers at present. The green water is free of bacteria and contaminants. The treatment facility is serving about half of Bountiful, so only half of the community gets this special spring treat. KJZZ-TV (Salt Lake City, Utah), April 8, 2022

Residents of Omaha, Lincoln and Fremont are urged by the Lower Platte River Consortium and the Papio-Missouri River Natural Resources District to conserve water as temperatures warm and drought is expected to continue through June. KETV-TV (Omaha, Neb.), April 14, 2022

Months of drought, high winds and dry grass continue to fuel extreme wildfire conditions across Kansas. The fires are also burning hotter and more aggressively, according to a volunteer fire captain in rural Pottawatomie County. More time and water have been needed to extinguish fires so they do not reignite later. With drought expected to persist into summer, the end of the fire season is not in sight. The number of volunteer firefighters has declined in recent years, so less manpower to battle fires leaves the remaining firefighters frustrated and exhausted after the all the fires in the last few months. Excessive rain in 2021 promoted grass growth, which presently is providing plenty of fuel for fires. Drought has stunted the growth of new green grass in spring 2022, which usually would be helpful as green grass does not burn like dead grass. High Plains Public Radio (Garden City, Kan.), April 15, 2022

Extreme drought conditions continued across the South Plains. Many farmers were still considering planting decisions based on drought conditions. Cattle continued to be supplementally fed. Many producers were thinning herds due to dry conditions and upward price trends. Several grass fires were reported. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), April 12, 2022 Wildfire danger and high wind warnings were reported in the South Plains. Very small amounts of rain fell in all counties. Subsoil and topsoil moisture levels improved but were still short. More moisture will be necessary to plant crops. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), April 5, 2022 Dry conditions continued across the South Plains. Producers were continuing to pre-water fields. Winter wheat needed moisture. Cattle were on supplemental feed. A grassfire was reported. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), March 29, 2022 Dry conditions continued across the district. All agriculture needed moisture. Farmers were also weighing their crop options according to the current drought and high input costs. Farmers were watering wheat and triticale. Dryland wheat needed relief from dry, windy conditions to be salvageable. Cattle were on supplemental feed due to lack of cool-season forages, and native grasses were still dormant. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), March 22, 2022 Conditions were very dry across the South Plains. Subsoil and topsoil moisture levels continued to be low. Dryland wheat fields were basically bare due to the prolonged drought. A few irrigated wheat fields were in fair condition, but most were in poor condition. Cattle were on supplemental feed due to the lack of grazing. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), March 15, 2022 Extremely dry conditions persisted in the South Plains. Producers with triticale and wheat began to water those crops, which were behind in maturation due to the lack of moisture. Planting conditions were unfavorable moving into the main growing season. Preplant irrigation was occurring but was sporadic. Cattle producers were supplementing herds with feedstuffs and hay. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), March 8, 2022 The South Plains received a little moisture, but conditions continued to be dry across the district. Winter wheat was in poor condition. Irrigated wheat was in fair condition. Row-crop fields were needing rain before planting. Cattle were on supplemental feed across the district. AgriLife (College Station, Texas), March 2, 2022

Rainfall amounts reached almost 2 inches in parts of North Texas, but more rainfall was needed. High winds stole some of the moisture away. Pasture and rangeland conditions were very poor to excellent. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), April 12, 2022 There was concern in North Texas about long-term drought, and producers were trying to locate hay supplies and secure contracts early. Wheat needed rain but improved significantly across the county since the latest rain events and warmer days. Pasture and rangeland were in very poor to fair condition. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), March 22, 2022 Soil moisture in North Texas ranged from short to adequate. Pasture and rangeland conditions were fair to poor. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), March 15, 2022 Soil moisture ranged from short to adequate in North Texas. Dry warm weather continued. Rains helped, but more was needed. Oats were generally in fair to good condition with a few counties reporting poor conditions. Most winter wheat fields were in poor to good condition. Pasture and rangeland conditions were very poor to fair. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), March 8, 2022 Drought remained in North Texas, and more moisture was needed. Pastures were helped by soil moisture which ranged from very short to adequate. Pasture and rangeland were fair to poor. AgriLife (College Station, Texas), March 2, 2022 Soil moisture ranged from very short to adequate. Some precipitation was received and should help winter pastures. Wheat showed some signs of relief and was mostly fair to good. Oats were reported to be very poor to good, but mostly fair. Pasture and rangeland were very poor to fair. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), Feb 24, 2022 Topsoil moisture throughout North Texas was short to adequate. More rain is needed before spring. Winter wheat improved slightly across the district. Water tanks were becoming a concern and pond levels were significantly low for this time of year. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), Feb 15, 2022 Topsoil moisture in North Texas is very short to short. Areas of the district were reporting extreme drought conditions. The lack of precipitation and high fertilizer prices were leading many wheat growers to consider delaying or splitting fertilizer applications based on cost and forecasts. Other wheat and oat producers reported fields were in decent shape but needed more precipitation. Pasture soil moisture and pond levels were becoming a concern. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), Feb 1, 2022 Soil moisture was very short to short and declining in North Texas. Cold, dry conditions were damaging to the winter wheat and pastures. Ponds were becoming a major concern due to water level declines. Some animals got stuck while wading out in deep mud to access water. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), Jan 25, 2022

Fire restrictions began at Carlsbad Caverns National Park on April 15. Charcoal and wood fires are banned, as is smoking, except in personal vehicles. The prolonged hot, dry windy weather increased the fire danger to an extreme level. Carlsbad Current Argus (N.M.), April 15, 2022

The Interior Department’s assistant secretary for water and science wrote to seven states in the Colorado River Basin on April 8 to request feedback on the proposal to keep 480,000 acre-feet of water in Lake Powell. She emphasized that operating the dam below 3,490 feet, the minimum power pool, has not been done. If power production ends at Glen Canyon Dam, customers such as cities, rural electric cooperatives and tribal utilities would have to turn to more expensive options for electricity. States' water managers have until April 22 to respond with feedback. Associated Press News (New York), April 12, 2022