Drought

Firefighting on state and federal lands in Utah has cost around $36 million since the start of the year, which is unusual so early in the year. The number of wildfires was below that of 2020, but intense drought and extreme heat have made it difficult to manage wildfires. The Salt Lake Tribune (Utah), July 2, 2021

All Arizona State Trust Land throughout the state were closed due to extremely high fire danger, drought, increased fire activity and limited resources. Hunting, camping and off-road vehicle use is not allowed on state owned and managed lands, per a news release from the Department of Forestry and Fire Management and the Arizona State Land Department. Eastern Arizona Courier (Safford), June 24, 2021

Since the start of the year, the Washington Department of Natural Resources responded to 899 fires that blackened 1,864 acres, with most of the blazes occurring in eastern Washington. SeattlePI.com (Wash.), July 1, 2021 Washington state firefighters responded to 475 fires on public land since the start of 2021, in comparison with 318 blazes at this time last year, according to the state Department of Natural Resources. Los Angeles Times (Calif.), June 19, 2021 Since the start of 2021, Washington State firefighters have responded to at least 410 fires on state lands, according to the state Public Lands commissioner. She described the fire activity as “the highest number of year-to-date fires in our history.” Spokane Spokesman-Review (Wash.), June 14, 2021

Gov. Jared Polis declared a drought emergency for western Colorado as impacts continued and water shortages occurred as the region endured years of intense drought. Colorado Water Conservation Board (Denver), July 1, 2021

Gov. Greg Gianforte issued an executive order declaring a statewide drought emergency for Montana. The order directed the state departments of agriculture, livestock, natural resources and conservation to cooperate with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to access federal funding. Some regulations were suspended for motor vehicles providing drought-related support. KECI-TV NBC 13 Missoula (Mont.), July 1, 2021

Gov. Kristi Noem declared a state of emergency for South Dakota, due to widespread drought. Her executive order will permit ditch mowing immediately in eastern South Dakota, although such mowing would normally not be allowed until after July 10. Almost 70% of pasture land was rated very poor or poor in South Dakota this past week, as reported by the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. The executive order will remain in effect through Aug. 31. Argus Leader (Sioux Falls, S.D.), June 29, 2021

Colorado shifted from Phase 2 to Phase 3 (full activation) of its State Drought Mitigation and Response Plan at Gov. Polis’ direction. The Municipal Water Impact Task Force will convene and coordinate with water providers to prepare for potential water challenges in 2021. Colorado Water Conservation Board (Denver), Dec. 1, 2020 Colorado activated the municipal portion of its emergency drought plan for the second time ever. The agricultural portion of the plan was activated during the summer, requiring government agencies serving farmers and ranchers to start coordinating aid efforts. Officials from several cities feared that the drought was severe enough to warrant hasty preparations for short supplies in 2021. Given the parched soil, runoff is expected to be lean as the soil absorbs the moisture. The Colorado Sun (Denver), Dec. 10, 2020

The drought in the West and concerns about the wildfire season has led to canceled displays, restrictions on the sale and use of fireworks or officials urging extreme caution. There were bans on personal fireworks from Idaho to New Mexico and canceled displays in Colorado and Arizona, where large wildfires were burning. Associated Press News (N.Y.), June 26, 2021

The Bureau of Land Management enacted fire restrictions on public lands managed by the Eagle Lake and Applegate field offices in Lassen, Modoc, Plumas, Sierra, Shasta and Siskiyou counties in California, and in Washoe County, Nevada. The restrictions took effect on July 1 and will remain in effect until further notice. Susanville Stuff (Calif.), July 1, 2021

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management issued a fire prevention order for all its lands in Nevada, including a ban on the use of fireworks, exploding targets and ammunition with steel components. The order took effect on July 2 and extended through Oct. 31. Restrictions were slightly stricter in several areas of the BLM’s Southern Nevada District where it was prohibited to build campfires, use charcoal barbeques or stove fires and smoke, except in an enclosed vehicle. Associated Press News (N.Y.), June 25, 2021

Drought has significantly reduced hydropower production in California, leading the state to turn to other sources of power, like natural gas from Texas, which has affected prices. Texas Standard (Austin, Texas), June 28, 2021

A Fresno County farmer left one-third of his 6,000 acres fallow because water was so scarce and relied upon emergency sources for a reduced crop. The supplemental water cost him $2,000 per acre-foot, compared to normal water prices of $200 to $250 per acre-foot. “If there is no water, there is no work, no money.” Times of San Diego (Calif.), June 26, 2021

Sonoma County water storage was drying up much more quickly than during the last intense stretch of drought in 2014-2016. Many livestock farmers were selling animals and thinning herds to cope with dry pastures and high feed prices. Some farmers who use Russian River water will lose access to that water once area reservoirs fall below a certain level, forcing farmers to adjust. Santa Rosa Press Democrat (Calif.), June 25, 20221

A Maine apple orchard owner stated that conditions were as dry as he has seen in the last 15 years. Apples were smaller than usual as the area was in moderate drought. WGME-TV 13 Portland (Portland, Maine), July 1, 2021

With no grass and no hay, a Meade County rancher had to sell some cattle. Some claimed this was the worst drought they had seen in 60 years or more. Cattle sales were unusually high in St. Onge in Lawrence County, moving 3,000 head weekly at a time of year when there would usually be about 300. Cow/calf pairs and replacement heifers were being sold. A weighty concern was what to feed cattle in the fall as hay was already high priced, and some ranchers won’t even get one cutting. Given the dry winter and spring, stock ponds and dugouts were dry. The Black Hills Pioneer (Spearfish, S.D.), June 26, 2021

A Minnesota alfalfa grower typically gets four cuttings during the summer, but has gotten only one. Drought this summer could lead to a Midwest hay shortage. Willmar Radio (Minn.), June 25, 2021

The Kimball Livestock Exchange was experiencing record livestock sales because cattle producers to not have sufficient feed and pasture for their herds. Some producers were travelling a distance to sell in Kimball, and some cattle were sold to out-of-state buyers. Cattle for sale were younger than would be expected as no feed and depleted or deteriorating water supplies force ranchers to make painful decisions. KELOLAND-TV CBS 11 (Sioux Falls, S.D.), June 30, 2021

One hundred forty irrigators in the Bellevue Triangle farming district in the Wood River Basin were ordered by the state to stop pumping groundwater from July 1 through the end of summer. The order, issued by the director of the Idaho Department of Water Resources, was to protect the Wood River aquifer, which in turn, protects downstream irrigators along Silver Creek and downstream communities. Many Lincoln County growers have dealt with significant pasture and crop loss, leading some to sell their herds of cattle and goats. Near Shoshone, a family farm will pay about $220,000 to rent Snake River water from the city of Shoshone Idaho Mountain Express (Ketchum), June 30, 2021

The three reservoirs on a Campbell County rancher have been dry since last summer or fall, but did not refill during the winter. Dry conditions and absence of grass led to the selling of livestock with more such sales possibly continuing in the future. Hay prices were high and rising. Cheyenne Wyoming Tribune-Eagle (Wyo.), June 28, 2021

While Minnesota’s soybeans, corn and sugar beets can still improve with rain, pastures were another story. Cattle producers needed to make decisions before the grass runs out, whether that means weaning calves early, hauling water or selling cattle. Nearly half of pasture and rangeland was in very poor to poor condition, as of the June 28 USDA crop report. Pasture grass was seeding out at 6 to 8 inches tall in parts of the state, although it would be better for the grass to be nearer to 18 inches before seeding out. This is the worst since 1988. Minneapolis Star Tribune (Minn.), June 29, 2021