Drought

Conditions in West Central Texas were dry and windy. The forecasted rain did not deliver, and high winds worsened conditions. Wheat remained in very poor condition. Some producers started to turn on irrigation to build some soil moisture for corn acres. Producers reduced livestock inventory as feeding costs were higher than potential price gains. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), March 29, 2022 Very dry conditions caused extreme fire danger across the region, worsened by extreme winds. Wildfires broke out around the area and burned an estimated 8,000 acres in Coleman County. Several head of livestock were lost to the fire. Rangelands and pastures were in poor to fair condition. The winter wheat crop was in mostly poor to fair condition. Spring growth was slow due to dry conditions. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), March 22, 2022 Pastures in west central Texas greened up a bit, but they still needed moisture. While some field preparations for sorghum planting began, many producers were waiting for moisture. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), March 15, 2022 Wildfire danger remained high in West Central Texas. The area needed a good rain, but there was no significant precipitation in the forecast. Drought conditions continued to persist and intensify. Rangeland and pasture conditions remained poor to fair, with little emergence of late-planted cool-season grasses. Farmers were waiting for rain to get fields ready to plant. Livestock remained in decent body condition due to supplemental feeding. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), March 8, 2022

A temporary burn ban was issued for Cape Coral to reduce the fire risk in the city. Recreational burns like fire pits and campfires are prohibited, as are permitted burns like bonfires and land clearing burns. The burn ban will remain in effect until the drought index falls below 600 for seven consecutive days. WINK-TV WinkNews.com (Fort Myers, Fla.), March 29, 2022

An abundance of fuel plus dry, windy weather has allowed numerous wildfires to burn in Texas. In Eastland County, more than 54,000 acres burned, while the Crittenberg Complex charred more than 33,000 acres in Coryell County through March 28 and was 40% contained. A Bosque County blaze blackened 927 acres before being extinguished on March 28. Waco Tribune-Herald (Texas), March 28, 2022

Commissioners in Midland and Ector counties adopted 90-day burn bans, restricting most outdoor burning, due to the rising fire danger and the presence of ample brush produced from rains in 2021. KWES-TV NewsWest 9 (Odessa, Texas), March 28, 2022

The Turlock Irrigation District (TID) is allowing its farmers about 60% of normal supplies amid a third year of drought. The irrigation season began on March 29 with an allotment of 27 inches through the season which will end on Oct. 12. The Modesto Irrigation District, which also draws water from Don Pedro Reservoir like the TID, has designated 30 inches for its irrigators. The Merced Irrigation District will provide just 1.1 acre-feet of water, or about 13 inches, from the Merced River. The Modesto Bee (Calif.), March 28, 2022

Drought is drying up pastures earlier for a Santa Rosa dairy farmer who expects to spend at least $2,500 per load of hay for his cows. His water allocation from the Santa Rosa reclaimed water program rose slightly. In Solano County, some almond growers were replacing their trees with olive trees to curb water use. North Bay Business Journal (Santa Rosa, Calif.), March 28, 2022

As California enters its third year of drought, Gov. Gavin Newsom told cities and other local water agencies to curb water use and enact stage two of their water shortage contingency plans, but did not order mandatory statewide cutbacks as Gov. Jerry Brown did years ago. Newsom has asked for water conservation of 15% to little avail. Water conservation in January was less than 6%. California’s major reservoirs averaged about 69% of capacity, per the Department of Water Resources. Shasta Lake is about half full. The Sierra snowpack is about 39% of normal and has largely evaporated. Gov. Newsom also urged the State Water Resources Control Board to consider banning irrigation of “non-functional” grass, which would include decorative grass around commercial and industrial buildings. The governor also was expediting help for Central Valley communities that were affected by drought and urgently needed bottled water or other emergency supplies. He would hasten state agency approvals needed “to protect fish and wildlife where drought actions threaten their health and survival.” The Sacramento Bee (Calif.), March 28, 2022

A state of disaster declaration was also made for Medina County where Das Goat Fire has burned more than 1,000 acres since March 25. ABC News (New York), March 28, 2022 Greg Abbott issued a disaster declaration for 11 counties in response to wildfire activity as high winds, low humidity and drought elevated the fire risk. The 11 counties are Brooks, Brown, Coleman, Comanche, Eastland, Grayson, Mason, Potter, Randall, Reynolds, and Williamson. Office of the Governor - Greg Abbott (Texas), March 18, 2022

Siouxland producers would be wise to assess pasture condition to determine future feed needs. Some drought-affected pastures will need moisture and some time to regrow. The lack of snow this winter may also have allowed more winter kill. Sioux City Journal (Iowa), March 27, 2022

South Dakota farmers and ranchers expect drought to persist into spring. A corn and soybean farmer admitted that extremely high input costs make him and fellow farmers nervous with the dry conditions. Stock ponds and surface water are lower than usual for this time of year. KSFY-TV ABC 13 Sioux Falls (S.D.), March 27, 2022

As spring planting nears, farmers are weighing a lot of variables from drought, fertilizer and pesticide shortages and high prices to high grain prices and other factors. Many farmers listed weather and drought as their topmost concern. DTN – Progressive Farmer (Burnsville, Minn.), March 26, 2022

Stricter water conservation in Pleasanton starting in October 2021 has resulted in a usage reduction of 18%-22% and cost the water utility an estimated $3.2 million in revenue, which has drawn down the city’s financial reserves and risked its ability to finance an upcoming fix for Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) chemicals. Starting May 1, the city will increase its water rates and charge Stage Two Water Drought Rates, tacking on $0.65 per 100 cubic feet of water to single-family home water bills. Commercial and multi-family homes will see an added $0.62 per 100 cubic feet charge, and irrigation water users will see an added $0.65 per 100 cubic feet charge. This is the first time that Pleasanton’s drought rate activation has been used. Charges for May-June water use will appear on the July bill. Livermore Independent (Calif.), March 24, 2022

The Alameda County Water District, serving Fremont, Newark and Union City, increased the cost of every 100 cubic feet of water, or 748 gallons, used by $0.79, which adds about $6 to an average monthly bill. San Francisco Chronicle (Calif.), March 23, 2022

Water conservation has cost the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission millions of dollars as their customers use less water. Effective April 1, water and wastewater rates will be temporarily increased 5% for retail customers. The water conservation manager attested that the utility is not making a profit, but is just trying to recover their costs. Due to increased conservation, officials at the Public Utilities Commission project that the city will lose $66 million of revenue in the current fiscal year, from July 1, 2021, to June 30, 2022, representing about 6% of PUC’s water budget and about 7% of the annual wastewater budget. San Francisco Chronicle (Calif.), March 23, 2022

The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission urged almost 3 million water customers in the Bay Area to curb water use by 10% and declared a water shortage emergency due to the continuing drought. SFPUC serves water customers in San Francisco and portions of Alameda, Santa Clara and San Mateo counties. The SFPUC will also tack on a temporary drought surcharge of 5% for retail and wastewater customers, effective April 1, 2022. CBS San Francisco (Calif.), Nov 23, 2021

Areas of the Wild Turkey Strand Preserve were dry, although it is typically underwater during the summer. A marsh off of Daniels Parkway is dry, although the area is also typically underwater during the summer. Cypress trees and knees are exposed at the Corkscrew Regional Ecosystem Watershed, but this area, too, is typically underwater during the summer. Fort Myers News-Press (Fla.), March 22, 2022

San Benito County farmers will not receive state water for the rest of 2022. The San Benito County Water District, which distributes water to 500 agriculture accounts, was contracted to receive 35,500 acre-feet of water but has received none for the second year in a row. KSBW-TV Salinas (Calif.), March 23, 2022

The Brazos River Authority enacted a "Stage 1 Drought Watch" condition on March 21. Harker Heights residents are to reduce their water use by 5%. Harker Heights municipal water comes from Lake Belton. Killeen Daily Herald (Texas), March 21, 2022

Conditions remain very dry in central South Dakota as little snow fell this winter after an extremely dry 2021. Crop land, pastures and water supply are affected by the dryness. Last spring, dugouts for cattle had water, but this spring, there is little to no water and access is an issue. Producers will need to haul water. Some pastures are so dry that cattle cannot graze. Some producers are adjusting livestock stocking rates, considering alternate water for their cattle, and rethinking their crop rotation. Fire danger is a huge concern amid drought. KELOLAND-TV CBS 11 (Sioux Falls, S.D.), March 23, 2022

Ongoing drought conditions led the Twin Falls Canal Company to delay the water delivery date. Water will be available on April 25, about a week and a half later than the usual date of April 15. The date was postponed to make sure that there was enough water in the reservoir system to begin the irrigation season. Farmers were asked to adjust their planting schedule. Water shares will be 5/8 rather than the usual ¾. The Upper Snake reservoir system was only at 50% capacity. KEZJ-FM (Twin Falls, Idaho), March 22, 2022