Drought

The Jackson County Board of Commissioners declared a drought emergency on March 23 due to low water levels, making this the third consecutive year for such an emergency declaration. A declaration lets the Oregon Water Resources Department take steps such as allowing the supplemental use of ground water and prioritizing water for human and livestock use. Jackson County reservoirs are at extremely low levels and have the capacity to hold enough water for multiple years, but some are nearly dry. As of last week, stream flows were just 29% of average, according to Oregon Water Resources Department. Medford Mail Tribune (Ore.), March 23, 2022

Governor Gavin Newsom’s administration is spending an additional $22.5 million in response to the immediate drought emergency after the driest January and February in more than 100 years of records in the Sierra Nevada. The $22.5 million allocation includes more funding for the Department of Water Resources, State Water Resources Control Board and the California Department of Food and Agriculture. More than a third of the money, $8.25 million, will be used to increase outreach efforts to educate Californians on water conservation measures and practices. Governor (Sacramento, Calif.), March 13, 2022

The State Water Resources Control Board sent letters to about 20,000 water rights holders, including farms and cities, to warn them to prepare for mandatory cutbacks in a matter of weeks. The notices went to rights holders in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and the Russian, Scott, Shasta, Mill Creek and Deer Creek watersheds. In 2021, requests for curtailment came in August. This year, however, the request is coming in the spring, a dire warning that the drought is intense. The Sacramento Bee (Calif.), March 22, 2022

A wildfire burned about 900 acres in wooded canyons of southern Lincoln County for almost a week before firefighters were able to contain and extinguish the blaze. The area was nearly inaccessible so helicopters were used to drop water on the flames. North Platte Bulletin (Neb.), March 21, 2022

Drought conditions led the Sonoma County Water Agency to begin the annual process of drawing from the Russian River weeks earlier than normal. A rubber dam was inflated near Forestville on March 21 to create a small pool that the agency draws water from to use in four off-stream infiltration pools for recharging groundwater. KPIX-TV CBS 5 San Francisco (Calif.), March 22, 2022

A volunteer firefighter lost her life while battling a Comanche County fire. Six wildfires burned in Comanche County with three of them being larger than 100 acres. Two mandatory evacuation orders were issued for two parts of the county. Wildfires have been an issue in the region since December with low humidity, high winds and unusually warm temperatures. The Oklahoman (Oklahoma City, Okla.), March 22, 2022

Rocky Mountain Power in Utah asked the Public Service Commission of Utah to approve an average increase to Utah customer bills of 1.9% starting May 1, 2022. The reason for the rate increase is that drought and a heat wave in June and July 2021 increased power costs. Rocky Mountain Power provides electric service to 1.2 million customers in Utah, Wyoming and Idaho. ABC4 (Salt Lake City, Utah), March 16, 2022

To adapt to the drier conditions, a farmer near Syracuse began growing different crops and invested in an expensive drip irrigation system to reduce water waste. This year his water district will give him about 60% of the usual amount of water. KSL-TV NBC 5 (Salt Lake City, Utah), March 14, 2022

Dry conditions in Dickinson County have not killed the wheat, but the harvest will be determined by the amount of precipitation received in coming weeks and months. Abilene Reflector-Chronicle (Kan.), March 11, 2022

Beer prices are rising due to drought-related barley shortages and rising fuel costs. Barley prices jumped more than 11 percent in the past two weeks, and wheat prices are also soaring. KTVQ-TV Q2 Billings (Mont.), March 17, 2022

As drought intensifies during what ought to be Hawaii’s wet season, the state Commission of Water Resource Management urges the public to reduce water use immediately in Maui County amid the historic drought conditions. “A significant lack of rainfall across the island has resulted in a lack of groundwater recharge and surface flow. Normal wet season rainfall has not materialized, and streams that are normally gushing with water are barely flowing. This is deepening our already grave concerns about the effects of seasonal drought on water supplies,” according to a CWRM deputy. If substantial precipitation does not fall in the next few months, wildfire season could be devastating this year. Lahaina News (Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii), March 18, 2022

The South Carolina Drought Response Committee changed the drought status from normal to incipient for 11 coastal counties. The 11 counties are Beaufort, Berkeley, Charleston, Colleton, Dorchester, Florence, Georgetown, Horry, Jasper, Marion and Williamsburg. Low streamflow conditions and below-normal topsoil and subsoil moisture were the primary factors leading to the drought declaration. Wildfire occurrence has been higher than normal over the last two months, especially along the coast. The Berkeley Observer (Goose Creek, S.C.), March 22, 2022

The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California declared a drought emergency on Nov. 9 and told local water suppliers to immediately use less water from the State Water Project. People should intensify water conservations efforts, as must the six water agencies that draw heavily or exclusively from the depleted State Water Project. California’s last two water years, which end on Sept. 30, were the driest two-year period in more than 100 years. This year water agencies received just 5% of full allocations from the SWP. In December, state water officials are expected to announce an initial 0% allocation for 2022. Los Angeles Times (Calif.), Nov 9, 2021 The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California’s drought emergency declaration follows Gov. Gavin Newsom’s Oct. 19 proclamation of a statewide drought emergency. In July, Gov. Newsom urged Californians to conserve 15% of water compared to last year’s use, but conservation amounted to 5% in August. KNBC-TV NBC 4 Los Angeles (Calif.), Nov 9, 2021

Southern Californians were strongly urged to substantially reduce their water use, especially outdoors, where more than 50% of all residential water is often used. Customers with the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California and Los Angeles Department of Water and Power were offered tips and rebates to encourage water conservation. Business Wire (San Francisco, Calif.), March 21, 2022

Some winter wheat in western Kansas never sprouted last fall because it was too dry. Abilene Reflector-Chronicle (Kan.), March 11, 2022 The precipitation deficit in western Kansas is 5 inches and could pose a problem for winter wheat. Farmers try to get the wheat planted by mid-September so livestock can graze it. The warm, dry weather in central Kansas kept the wheat trying to grow and using water at a time of year when the crop should be nearing dormancy or already dormant for the winter. KWCH 12 (Wichita, Kan.), Dec 2, 2021

Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) has been conserving water in its reservoirs in preparation for heavier electric demand this coming summer, according to a communications representative for PG&E. Starting January 1, the average household saw an increase on their electrical bill of about $12. Again on March 1, bills rose about $14. The rate changes account for updated costs for electric grid safety, reliability, and resilience investments and upgrades, including reducing wildfire risk. PG&E's 16 largest reservoirs are at roughly 63% of capacity. KSBY-TV San Luis Obispo (Calif.), March 17, 2022

Dry conditions in eastern North Carolina have resulted in more grass fires in recent days. WITN-TV NBC 7 Greenville (N.C.), March 21, 2022

Texas wildfires, driven by gusty winds, drought and low humidity, were charring sizeable swaths of the state. The Big L fire on the border of Erath and Hood counties blackened 11,000 acres and was 10% contained on the evening of March 20. The Eastland Complex fire in the Eastland County area began on March 17, burned more than 54,000 acres, consumed scores of homes and took the life of a sheriff’s deputy. Similar critical fire weather was expected to continue for days. The New York Times, March 21, 2022

Hay prices were $50 to $100 higher per ton than usual after drought in northern Minnesota and the western U.S. in 2021 cut into hay supplies. One dairy farmer in Hinckley was feeding his cows two-year old hay and buying poorer quality hay due to the premium prices. Duluth News Tribune (Minn.), March 21, 2022

Ongoing drought in the Colorado River Basin left Lake Powell at about 25% of capacity. The US Geological Survey and the Bureau of Reclamation have found that the reservoir’s capacity has been diminishing due to the buildup of sediments from the Colorado and San Juan rivers. Storage capacity has decreased about 33,270 acre-feet, or 11 billion gallons, annually between 1963 and 2018, amounting to nearly 7% of the potential storage capacity since 1963. The level of Lake Powell fell below the critical threshold of 3,525 feet the week of March 14, increasing concerns about water supply and hydropower generation for millions of people. CNN (Atlanta, Ga.), March 21, 2022 Lake Powell, second largest reservoir in the U.S., dropped below the critical threshold of 3,525 feet on March 15, with a buffer of just 35 feet of water before hydropower production ends. The drop below the critical threshold should be temporary and alleviated by snowmelt. Worst-case projections show Powell dropping below 3,525 feet again as early as August 2022. At that point, emergency water releases from Blue Mesa in Colorado and other reservoirs might be needed again like was done during the 2021 summer when water was released from several upper Colorado River reservoirs to bolster the level of Lake Powell. Those releases added about six feet of water to Lake Powell. Colorado Public Radio (Centennial, Colo.), March 16, 2022 Lake Powell is on track to fall below 3,525 feet above sea level between March 10 and 16. The 3,525 mark is important because it is the “target elevation” for the reservoir, threatening the ability of Glen Canyon Dam to generate hydropower and provide power for Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, and Nebraska. Below 3,525 feet is the 35-foot buffer for emergency response to prevent Lake Powell from falling below the minimum pool elevation of 3,490 feet, the lowest point at which hydropower generation can occur. When Lake Powell drops below 3,525 feet, the Bureau of Reclamation would need to release water from reservoirs as the spring snowmelt wanes at the end of summer. CNN US (Atlanta, Ga.), March 3, 2022