Drought

Salt Lake City officials warned that water use was up for this time of year compared to the past several years. Residents were urged to be mindful of their consumption amid heat and drought. Total water use was 5% higher in the Salt Lake City Department of Public Utilities service areas, and outdoor water use was up 10%. Utah News Dispatch (Salt Lake City), June 6, 2025

The Navajo Nation declared a drought emergency, similar to the one issued by the state of New Mexico. The president of the Navajo Nation made the declaration in late May and said that 900 windmills and 7,500 stock ponds were losing capacity on the Nation. KJZZ (Phoenix, Ariz.), June 6, 2025

The Tucson Fire Department has responded to more than 500 brush fires since the start of the year, which is almost twice as many fires as the same time frame last year. KOLD News 13 (Tucson, Ariz.), June 5, 2025

The Tucson City Council officially declared a fire emergency and enacted Stage II fire restrictions. The decision was made Tuesday, June 3, and comes after the same restrictions were put in place for Pima County, state, and federal lands. KOLD News 13 (Tucson, Ariz.), June 5, 2025

The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation forecasted that Yakima River basin irrigators with junior water-rights would get 43% of their full water allotments, the lowest percentage in 20 years. The Reclamation Bureau will update its outlook in mid-June and projects the water supply could drop to as low as 34% of normal. Capital Press (Salem, Ore.), June 5, 2025

Lake Corpus Christi has fallen low enough to expose bridges, roads and the remains of a 1930s boathouse. A bridge for cars that used to take vehicles across a part of the lake was again visible. KIII TV (Corpus Christi, Texas), June 5, 2025

Three mosaic viruses coupled combined with ongoing drought stress stunted wheat fields and turned them yellow in an unprecedented largescale outbreak this spring. Wheat in eastern Colorado, southern Nebraska, Kansas, and northern Oklahoma were stricken. AgUpdate (Tekamah, Neb.), June 5, 2025

Lake Mead is dropping to its third lowest level in a decade, and poor snowpack in Colorado wasn’t expected to boost the water level much. Lake Mead boat ramps at Hemenway Harbor, Callville Bay, Echo Bay, South Cove and Temple Bar were to be modified to remain useable at lower water levels. SFGate (San Francisco, Calif.), June 5, 2025

The Washington Department of Ecology expanded the drought emergency declared in April to include areas in the North and Central Cascade Mountains and parts of the Puget Sound area. On April 8, Ecology declared drought for the Yakima Basin watersheds, while issuing a drought advisory for Puget Sound region and portions of the Central and North Cascades. The areas served by Seattle, Tacoma and Everett water utilities remain under drought advisory. In nearly two months since the declaration, conditions in Whatcom and Skagit counties, and portions of Snohomish, King, Pierce, Lewis, Thurston, Okanagan, Chelan, Clallam, Jefferson and Ferry counties have worsened due to early and rapid snowmelt, combined with unusually dry April and May weather. The warm April led to rapid snowmelt which will mean less water will be available in summer and early fall when it is most needed for farms and fish. Department of Ecology, State of Washington, June 5, 2025 Washington’s drought emergency was extended for a third year, affecting Kittitas, Yakima, and part of Benton counties. A drought advisory was issued for north-central Washington and parts of the Puget Sound region, encompassing Pierce, King, Snohomish, Skagit, Whatcom, Okanogan and Chelan counties. Washington Department of Ecology, April 8, 2025

Avista has applied temporary changes to power line operations in its Washington and Idaho service areas in response to dry summer conditions and the elevated wildfire danger in the area. GlobeNewswire (Los Angeles, Calif.), June 3, 2025

Alfalfa planted in Dawson County in mid-April did not emerge due to low soil moisture. Winter wheat growers in Philips and Liberty counties were not expecting to harvest the crop because it was too stressed. Vegetation was stressed in northern Montana, particularly along the Rocky Mountain Front and the region around Peck Reservoir. Missoula Current (Mont.), June 4, 2025

Northern Virginia and the Shenandoah region remained in a drought watch, according to the Department of Environmental Quality. The drought watch advisory included the Northern Virginia regions, which includes Arlington, Fairfax, Fauquier, Loudoun, and Prince William counties, and the Shenandoah region, which encompasses Augusta, Clarke, Frederick, Page, Rockingham, Shenandoah, and Warren counties. A drought watch advisory was lifted for Eastern Shore, Northern Coastal Plain, Northern Piedmont, and the Roanoke River. WRIC-TV (Richmond, Va.), June 2, 2025

The “Old Wolf Oak,” a burr oak with a 9.8-foot circumference located in Ponca State Park, was thought to be more than 380 years old. Nebraska Game and Parks Commission officials say that drought conditions in the eastern part of the state have created large areas of dead or declining mature trees, including the old oak tree. Nebraska Examiner (Lincoln), May 31, 2025

The Lee County burn ban that took effect on April 15 was lifted on June 3 as recent rainfall lowered the Keetch-Byram Drought Index to below 500. Fort Myers News-Press (Fla.), June 3, 2025 The 17 Florida counties with burn bans include Charlotte, Collier, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, Lake, Lee, Orange, Polk, Sarasota, Seminole, Volusia, Manatee, Citrus, Hernando and Pasco. Bradenton, FL Patch, April 22, 2025

The Auburn Board of Public Works intended to draw water from Long’s Creek as the community remained in a drought contingency stage 3 water emergency. The board was working with state agencies to get a temporary treatment plant for Long’s Creek water. An excavating business from Topeka, Kansas has provided 1,800 gallons of water for the public’s outdoor use. News Channel Nebraska (Grand Island, Neb.), June 2, 2025

Two percent more Nebraska cattle were in feedlots in May 2025 compared to the previous year. Nationwide, the number of cattle in feedlots decreased 2%. Some beef industry experts think that the small increase could be for several reasons, like the new Nebraska cattle feeding facilities that just opened and farmers opting to keep their cattle on longer, but drought is likely the main reason for more Nebraska cattle in feedlots in May. Iowa and Colorado also had slightly more cattle on feed. Nebraska Public Media (Lincoln, Neb.), June 2, 2025

Groundwater permit holders in the Edwards Aquifer were shifted back to Stage 4 restrictions on May 29 as conditions improved slightly. Community Impact - San Antonio (Texas), May 30, 2025

The Edwards Aquifer Authority issued Stage 5 restrictions for those who have permits to pump water from the Edwards Aquifer. This is the first time Stage 5 has been reached or needed since the Edwards Aquifer Authority was established in 1993. San Antonio Water System water customers, however, were asked to continue to observe Stage 3 restrictions. KSAT 12 Online (San Antonio, Texas), May 23, 2025

Gov. Spencer Cox issued an Executive Order declaring a state of emergency in 17 counties due to drought conditions combined with low streamflow forecasts, increased water demand as temperatures rise. The counties in the declaration were Washington, Iron, San Juan, Kane, Juab, Emery, Grand, Beaver, Garfield, Piute, Millard, Tooele, Uintah, Carbon, Sevier, Sanpete and Wayne. The Drought Response Committee recommended that the governor issue a drought declaration at their recent meeting. Utahns were urged to conserve water. Utah Department of Natural Resources (Salt Lake City, Utah), April 24, 2025

The town of Silver City banned some fireworks, but the town’s Fire Department will still conduct a Fourth of July fireworks show for the public. The Town Council approved a resolution proclaiming extreme and severe drought conditions exist and banning the sale and use of fireworks specified under state law. The fire marshal of the Silver City Fire Department raised the town’s fire restrictions to Stage 2, effective Wednesday, May 28. The village of Santa Clara made a drought declaration, and the fire chief announced Stage 2 fire restrictions within the village. Silver City Daily Press (N.M.), May 29, 2025