Drought

The North Weld County Water District, which has had a moratorium on new water taps since late October, will install flow-control devices on water meters to prevent agricultural and commercial users from using more than their allocation of water amid the current drought. If the water supply decreases, water to the meters may be reduced or shut off. The district plans to install about 50 flow-control devices. Greeley Daily Tribune (Colo.), Feb 3, 2022

Whatcom County mayors from Ferndale, Blaine, Lynden, Everson, Nooksack, and Sumas sent a letter to the State Department of Ecology, Department of Natural Resources, Department of Agriculture, and Department of Natural Resources seeking help coping with the effects of extreme weather events. In the summer, the Nooksack River has too little water, except during flooding in the spring or fall. Low flows allowed more than 2,500 salmon to die, and berries, potatoes and other crops failed because there was not enough water for irrigation. MyNorthwest.com (Seattle, Wash.), Feb 3, 2022

North Weld County Water District’s moratorium on new water tap that began in late October 2021. The moratorium caused the issuance of new building permits in Severance to stop, leaving many development and national and local home-building projects on hold. Thirty-seven building permits that were in process were halted, while another 110 permits in the town’s service area were also affected. Hundreds of additional permits need to be pulled. Eaton also has an “effective moratorium” on building permits, and other neighboring communities are affected. Greeley Daily Tribune (Colo.), Jan 19, 2022

A burn ban was instituted for Union County on Jan. 31 and remained in effect until further notice. The area has been dry since fall. El Dorado News-Times (Ark.), Jan 31, 2022

The Oklahoma County countywide burn was extended on Jan. 31 for 14 days and took effect on Feb. 1. The ban originally went into effect on Jan. 18 due to the increased incidence of wildland fires. Thirty-three Oklahoma counties have bans on outdoor burning, including most counties west of Interstate 35. The Oklahoman (Oklahoma City, Okla.), Feb 1, 2022

More than half a dozen fires kept Montague County firefighters occupied on Jan. 29 and forced the evacuations of several homes along State Highway 59. One fire burned after someone violated the burn ban. Bowie News (Texas), Feb 2, 2022

Beef brisket and other cuts of meat continue to be pricey as drought, packing capacity and corn prices have influenced beef production. At the start of December, the cost of prime and USDA choice cuts was more than $280 per hundredweight. Texas A&M Today (College Station, Texas), Jan 28, 2022

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) will provide trout anglers in the greater Sacramento area with an unprecedented fishing opportunity this winter: the chance to catch brook trout from a half-dozen urban and suburban park ponds and lakes that are part of CDFW’s Fishing in the City program. California Department of Fish and Wildlife (Sacramento, Calif.), Jan 12, 2022

The S.C. Drought Response Committee met Feb. 1 to review the drought status of all counties in South Carolina and opted to declare the entire state free of drought. Above average precipitation totals in December and January allowed the Committee to remove the incipient drought status for the 34 counties. The wildfire threat was higher in December, prompting the incipient drought designation, but the wildfire threat has eased in the past 30 days, per the S.C. Forestry Commission. The South Carolina Drought Response Committee will continue monitoring conditions because some counties are still on the cusp of drought. Another call may be needed in early March. Orangeburg Times and Democrat (S.C.), Feb 1, 2022 The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources has declared drought conditions across the state, recognizing 34 counties as being in incipient drought. The meeting was called, due to wildfire concerns as the number of wildfires was nearly twice the 10-year average. By the first week of September, South Carolina had already had more than 1.5 times the 10-year average of wildfires. Rock Hill Herald (S.C.), Dec 10, 2021

Casper residents are reminded to care for their trees during the winter. The last few years of drought has meant low soil moisture, so adding mulch and watering the trees could help maintain tree health during the colder months. KGWN-TV (Cheyenne, Wyo.), Feb 2, 2022

As the level of Lake Powell continues to fall, water will be held back in the reservoir this spring to keep Powell from falling too low to generate power. The aim is to keep Powell above the critical elevation of 3,525 feet above sea level, which still allows a 35-foot buffer before Glen Canyon Dam’s hydropower turbines can no longer operate. Water from the upper basin reservoirs of Flaming Gorge, Blue Mesa and Navajo could also be sent down the Colorado River to Lake Powell, although at present those reservoirs are badly depleted and need heavy snowpack this winter. Meanwhile, the bureau and upper basin states continue to work on a new drought-response operations plan, which is expected to be completed in April. The Salt Lake Tribune (Utah), Jan 7, 2022

Drought conditions are intensifying in Central Texas, and moisture is needed before spring planting. Hard freezes have damaged oat and wheat crops. The expectation of significant precipitation in coming weeks has corn growers purchasing seed. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), Feb 1, 2022

Winter wheat in the Southern High Plains in Oklahoma and Texas was in rough shape due to drought, according to AgriLife Extension grain economist at Bryan-College Station. While it has been reported that emerged wheat fields were lost to dry conditions, there is still time for dryland wheat to recover and make grain. Wheat is struggling, but the crop is still dormant in most parts of Texas. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), Feb 1, 2022

Warm, dry conditions in Goshen County were helping cattle and livestock conditions. Kiowa County Press (Eads, Colo.), Jan 30, 2022

The San Luis Valley received minimal moisture during January and remained dry. Mild weather and lack of snow allowed livestock to remain pastured longer than normal. Kiowa County Press (Eads, Colo.), Jan 25, 2022

Drought conditions did not improve in eastern Colorado counties, where concerns remained for fall-seeded crops and pasture conditions due to severe lack of precipitation. Several counties were eligible for emergency grazing of CRP due to drought. Kiowa County Press (Eads, Colo.), Jan 25, 2022

Drought has persisted into the winter in Wyoming, leaving hay growers short on hay to sell and ranchers short on hay for their livestock. A hay grower in Powell in northern Wyoming said that he usually sells his hay in Canada and the East Coast, but the demand for hay locally was so high that he had none left to ship elsewhere. With higher demand, hay prices rose from $125-$150 per ton to $300 per ton. Wyoming Business Report (Cheyenne, Wyo.), Jan 31, 2022

Hay and roughage supplies for Wyoming were rated 36 percent very short, 34 percent short, and 30 percent adequate, compared to 15 percent very short, 47 percent short, and 38 percent adequate on November 28. Stock water supplies across Wyoming were rated 35 percent very short, 21 percent short, and 44 percent adequate, compared to 17 percent very short, 40 percent short, and 43 percent adequate on November 28. Kiowa County Press (Eads, Colo.), Jan 8, 2022

Colorado's winter wheat condition declined with 25 percent of the crop rated good to excellent, compared to 38 percent good to excellent from the previous report. Kiowa County Press (Eads, Colo.), Jan 8, 2022

The San Luis Valley remained very dry and warm during December. Mild weather and lack of snow allowed livestock to remain pastured longer than normal. Producers continued to provide feed supplements due to poor range conditions. Kiowa County Press (Eads, Colo.), Jan 8, 2022