Drought

California Gov. Gavin Newsom included another nine counties in the emergency drought proclamation that encompasses 50 of the state's 58 counties. The nine counties were Inyo, Marin, Mono, Monterey, San Luis Obispo, San Mateo, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara and Santa Cruz. Associated Press News (New York), July 8, 2021 California Gov. Gavin Newsom included another 39 counties in his drought emergency declaration, which originally included only Sonoma and Mendocino counties. No mandatory drought water conservation targets were ordered, as was done during the previous drought, because Californians were using 16% less water than they did in 2013 as conservation had become a habit. Newsom will also request $5.1 billion over the next four years, including $1 billion to help low-income residents pay overdue water bills, $1.3 billion for upgrades to drinking water systems and funds for groundwater projects, canal repairs and fish restoration projects. Warm temperatures melted the Sierra Nevada snowpack quickly, which was only 59% of historical average on April 1. Much of the runoff soaked into the dry soil rather than refilling reservoirs, which consequently hold 500,000 acre-feet less than was anticipated, enough water for 1 million households. The Mercury News (San Jose, Calif.), May 10, 2021 Gov. Gavin Newsom declared drought emergency in Mendocino and Sonoma counties as they deal with “substantial water supply and ecosystem challenges.” State officials were directed to work with local water suppliers to conserve more water. Lake Mendocino was at about 43% capacity, and Lake Sonoma was about 62% full. The Mercury News (San Jose, Calif.), April 21, 2021

The number of wildfires in California and the land burned continued to run ahead of last year’s numbers, which was a record year in terms of land burned. From the start of 2021 through July 4, 4,599 fires blackened 114.8 square miles (297 square kilometers), according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Associated Press (N.Y.), July 7, 2021 California fire activity was ahead of last year’s record fire season, leading Gov. Gavin Newsom to propose spending a record $2 billion on wildfire mitigation, which is twice what he proposed in January. Since the start of the year, more than 2,600 fires burned 24 square miles, or nearly five times more land than at this point last year. Associated Press (New York, N.Y.), May 24, 2021 With the warm, dry spring, Cal Fire has reported more than 1,800 fires charring nearly 9,400 acres since the start of 2021, more than double the five-year average. San Francisco Chronicle, May 11, 2021 As California wildfire officials anticipated anther historic fire season, fire activity and the burned area were already higher than in 2020. Since the start of the year, more than 1,950 fires have blackened more than 20 square miles, according to the National Interagency Fire Center. In 2020, more than 6,390 square miles burned in 10,431 wildfires, as tallied by NIFC, for the worst fire season recorded in California. The Weather Channel (Atlanta, Ga.), May 6, 2021 In a busy start to the fire season, 297 wildfires in California blackened 1,171 acres statewide on nonfederal lands, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. This count is more than double the number of blazes seen in January 2020, a historic year for wildfires in the Golden State. The five-year average for January is 108 fires, with 58 acres burned, according to Cal Fire. USA Today (McLean, Va.), Feb. 3, 2021

Syrup output from maple trees in New Hampshire was poor this spring, likely due to drought last year. New Hampshire Business Review (Concord), June 29, 2021

All outdoor water use was banned in South Berwick, due to drought. WGME-TV 13 Portland (Maine), June 29, 2021

The Santa Rosa city council voted to make voluntary conservation mandatory as Russian River wholesale water allocations were cut and Sonoma County declared a local drought emergency. Water conservation of 20% over last year’s use is the goal. Other North Bay communities with mandatory water restrictions include Petaluma, Sonoma, Rohnert Park, Healdsburg and Cloverdale. KTVU (San Francisco, Calif.), June 30, 2021

Hyde Park residents must halve their outdoor water use immediately to avoid the city water tanks running dry by July 3. The public was notified of the water crisis on June 28 and responded by reducing their water use so the water tanks began to refill at night. KSL.com (Salt Lake City), June 30, 2021

Stage three water use restrictions took effect in Helena on July 1, banning lawn watering and irrigation using treated municipal water, due to high water use. The restrictions will remain through Sept. 1. Helena Independent Record (Mont.), July 1, 2021

Restrictions on outdoor water use are recommended by the Department of Environmental Services. Seventy-four systems in 42 municipalities have restricted outdoor water use, largely in Hillsborough and Rockingham counties. New Hampshire Business Review (Concord), June 29, 2021 The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services urged water suppliers to monitor drought conditions and request that water customers conserve water. Keene Sentinel (N.H.), May 29, 2021

Utah fishing limits were raised for anglers as the hot, dry weather lowered water levels and allowed water temperatures to rise. Increased catch limits to be in effect through Oct. 31. KSL NewsRadio 102.7FM 1160AM (Salt Lake City, Utah), July 2, 2021

Anglers were urged to voluntarily stop fishing the Dolores River in southwest Colorado by noon as drought reduced the river flow to 9 cubic feet per second and allowed water temperatures to rise to around 75 degrees. The Animas, San Juan and Colorado rivers may also be closed in the near future. The Colorado Sun (Denver), June 29, 2021

Emergency fishing restrictions will take effect in Oregon July 1 through Sept. 30 in several angling zones as intense drought threatens fish. KTVZ-TV NewsChannel 21 (Bend, Ore.), June 30, 2021

More wildlife, notably bears and rattlesnakes, were encroaching on California’s urban areas in search of wetter, cooler conditions. The Hill (Washington, D.C.), June 28, 2021

More snakes, including venomous snakes, are being observed earlier than usual this year in Utah’s Salt Lake Valley. The Great Basin rattlesnake and Mojave sidewinder, both venomous, have been spotted in the St. George area in the southwestern corner of the state. Summer, and especially drought, lead to more snake sightings, not to mention the wildfires displacing them. Deseret News (Salt Lake City, Utah), June 26, 2021

More rattlesnakes have been encountered in densely populated areas of Nevada as drought drives the serpents to neighborhoods in search of food. KOLO 8 News (Reno, Nev.), June 29, 2021

Bears were visiting some North Dakota towns in search of food as berry bushes offered little for the bruins this year. AM 1100 The Flag (Fargo, N.D.), June 25, 2021

A statewide burn ban took effect in Washington State on July 2 as the region coped with extreme heat and drought. The order banned outdoor burning, campfires, the use of charcoal briquettes, and prescribed burns on all forest lands within Department of Natural Resources’ fire protection and will last through Sept. 30, but could be extended. Since the start of the year, the Washington DNR responded to 899 fires that blackened 1,864 acres, with most of the blazes occurring in eastern Washington. Numerous public officials have urged Washingtonians to forgo the personal fireworks this year and take in a public display instead. SeattlePI.com (Wash.), July 1, 2021

The governor of Utah and other leaders warned Utahns to skip the personal fireworks as intense drought persisted. Daily Herald (Provo, Utah), June 30, 2021

Arizonans were urged to leave the fireworks alone as much of the state was in exceptional drought and wildfire activity was already high in the state. Associated Press News (N.Y.), July 2, 2021

The high fire risk in Oregon, given the recent heatwave and ongoing heat, led the state fire marshal and the Oregon Department of Forestry chief of fire protection to urge the public to be mindful of the dry conditions when celebrating the Fourth. KTVZ-TV NewsChannel 21 (Bend, Ore.), July 1, 2021

Minnesota officials reminded the public to be extremely cautious with fire-related activities this year, due to the heightened fire risk. Fire and fireworks restrictions were in effect for southern Beltrami County, and all of Cass, Crow Wing, Hubbard, Itasca, Morrison, Todd, and Wadena counties. KMXK-FM (St. Cloud, Minn.), July 2, 2021