Drought

In May, the U.S. Department of Agriculture forecasted an almond harvest of a record 3.2 billion pounds, but drought led to a 13% reduction with an expectation of about 2.8 billion pounds from the August-October harvest. Low water allocations of 80% and June extreme heat prevented the crop from developing as well as expected. California produces about 80% of the world’s almonds. Despite the smaller harvest, this year’s crop will still be the second largest ever, second to the 2020 harvest of 3.12 billion pounds. The Modesto Bee (Calif.), July 13, 2021

Minnesota cattle farmers were selling the herd or buying feed, with many opting to sell. Hay was scarce and expensive. According to the Minnesota State Cattlemen’s Association, many were being forced into early retirement, selling the entire herd. KMSP-TV FOX 9 (Eden Prairie, Minn.), July 13, 2021

Drought-stricken crops in North Dakota were being fed to hungry livestock as poor hay growth led to cattle sales. Wheat and barley were being baled as drought limited their growth, leaving them unworthy of harvesting. The forage was badly needed as the hay crop was just 10% to 25% of normal, leading ranchers to cull cattle, according to the president of the North Dakota Stockmen’s Association. Grains that under better circumstances would be “armpit high” were just “boot-high at best.” Many fields never greened up in the spring, leaving cattle on brown grass come June. Fifteen or more percent of the spring wheat crop may be abandoned, for the highest abandonment rate in nearly 20 years, stated a chief commodities economist with StoneX. Bloomberg Green (N.Y.), July 22, 2021

Drought and low stream flows have led to a critical water shortage for Beeline Water in Boundary County. Conservation was needed for the near future. KHQ Q6 (Spokane, Wash.), July 5, 2021

Sacramento residents and businesses were urged to lower their water use by 10% as drought persisted and Sacramento invoked its water shortage contingency plan. The Regional Water Authority and Sacramento Water Forum repeated their request for area residents to lower their water use by 10%. Folsom Lake was at 28% of capacity and considerably below its historical average, but groundwater supplies should get the area through the rest of 2021. The Sacramento Bee (Calif.), July 7, 2021

Dallas and Silverton needed citizens to strive for greater water conservation, due to lower than normal reservoirs. Salem, Stayton and Gates all draw water from Detroit Lake, which was closing earlier than usual as low water levels forced the removal of boats from the marina. Statesman Journal (Salem, Ore.), July 7, 2021

A Stage 1 water shortage took effect for the Upcountry on July 2. Water users were prohibited from using water for irrigation, watering lawns, washing vehicles and other non-essential uses. Fields were dry, mountainsides were dry and brown, the fire danger was high and water availability was a growing concern. The water supply for West Maui was also low, and voluntary conservation was encouraged. Maui News (Wailuku), July 3, 2021

The Marin Municipal Water District permits customers to use their sprinklers just one day weekly on an assigned day, with drip irrigation allowed twice weekly. The rules were adopted because some individuals persisted in using sprinklers three or more times weekly. The district mandated a 40% collective reduction in water use, compared with 2018-2020, but conservation has only reached 21%. A water pipeline across the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge could be needed as an emergency supply project to keep water flowing next summer if the coming winter is dry. Marin Independent Journal (Calif.), July 7, 2021

The Contra Costa Water District requests that customers voluntarily curb their water use by 10%. The water has a slightly musty smell, due to increased salt and algae in the raw water, but the water is safe to drink. KPIX-TV CBS 5 San Francisco (Calif.), July 8, 2021

Water levels were historically low and warm on the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway and the Namekagon River, making traveling by boat or canoe difficult. Burnett County Sentinel (Grantsburg, Wis.), July 8, 2021

Concerns about water supplies in northwest Iowa have leaders in several communities leaning toward tighter restrictions. Sheldon, Rock Rapids, Sioux Center and Orange City were some of the towns where greater water conservation would be beneficial. NWestIowa.com (Sheldon, Iowa), July 4, 2021

Anglers were urged to not fish the Colorado and Gunnison rivers, due to unusually low flows and high water temperatures. Some of the Yampa River will likely soon be closed to fishing. With Colorado River flows about half of historical normal in western Colorado, fishing was voluntarily closed between Kremmling and Rifle beginning July 7. The USGS gauge on the Colorado River at Catamount Bridge registered 600 to 700 cubic feet per second, compared to the normal of 1,500 to 2,000 cfs. Some fish mortality has already occurred. 9News (Denver, Colo.), July 7, 2021

Utah farmers were under stress as water supplies were too short to offer much for irrigation. On top of that, many farmers have also seen social media and message board content critical of farmers for the amount of water used during the drought, making them feel guilty for the water use and fearing that they will lose friends over their occupation. The Utah Farm Bureau organized mental health professionals to speak to the farmers and help them cope with the challenges they are facing. KSL-TV NBC 5 (Salt Lake City, Utah), July 8, 2021

Oregon Gov. Kate Brown and Utah Gov. Spencer Cox asked the federal government for help as their states endured extreme heat, drought and wildfires. Financial assistance would help purchase aircraft to fight fires and pay for infrastructure that would allow more water storage. In 2021, 49 wildfires charred more than 524,441 acres in several states, including Oregon, California and Utah, according to the National Interagency Fire Center. For the nation, more than 1.5 million acres have burned in 2021. CNN (Atlanta, Ga.), July 4, 2021

Oregon Governor Kate Brown issued an executive order July 7 directing state agencies to implement water conservation practices as several counties declare drought emergencies, bringing the total to 19 counties with drought emergencies. State agencies that own or manage land are to curtail or end non-essential water use for landscaping and other uses; implement a moratorium on the installation of new landscaping; and put up signs or other messaging in state-owned buildings to encourage water conservation. KATU-TV ABC 2 Portland (Portland, Ore.), July 7, 2021

Gov. Jay Inslee declared a state of emergency for Washington and banned most outdoor and agricultural burning through Sept. 30. His order also activated the Washington National Guard to help with firefighting efforts. KING-TV NBC 5 (Seattle, Wash.), July 16, 2021

The announcement comes as the community was looking forward to tourism season as they recover from last year’s devastating wildfires. KATU-TV ABC 2 Portland (Ore.), July 7, 2021

The Tucson Audubon Society’s annual trogon survey uncovered just 68 birds in May, or about one-third of the number found last year. The precipitous drop in the bird count was thought to be due to extreme drought and poor food supply, according to the Tucson Audubon’s bird conservation biologist who coordinates the trogon surveys. It is possible that drought in Mexico prevented some of the trogons from migrating north to Arizona to breed. Another theory is that the population of trogons was quieter and were not detected in the survey because the birds were not calling to attract mates. Sycamore trees that the birds nest in had brown leaves and were limp or withering. Numerous other trees, notably oaks, had bare branches or yellow or yellow-green leaves. Some silver leaf oaks were dead. There were fewer painted redstarts and sulphur-bellied flycatchers. Black oaks were not producing acorns this year. Even bears were munching at suet bird feeders for lack of food in the wild. Tucson (Ariz.), July 5, 2021

A gypsy moth caterpillar outbreak in Vermont was the worst in many years, stripping trees of foliage. The COVID-19 pandemic prevented aerial forest inspections, allowing the outbreak to progress undetected for months. Drought also was a factor in the outbreak. Rain would promote the growth of a fungus that kills the caterpillars and limit the population, but rainfall has been below normal. One million to ten million acres of forests may be defoliated in 2021 from this outbreak. CNN (Atlanta, Ga.), July 4, 2021

Measured vegetation moisture levels in San Mateo County were at or below historic low values for this time of year. The Cal Fire San Mateo-Santa Cruz Unit tested vegetation at various sites in both counties on July 1 and found a significant decrease in water content. In 2020, it was early to mid-August before moisture levels fell this low, according to Cal Fire. San Mateo, CA Patch, July 8, 2021