Drought

Brunswick Regional Water and Sewer H2GO issued a Stage 4 Water Shortage Alert, prohibiting all irrigation until further notice. All non-essential water use was forbidden, and non-compliance could result in civil penalties. Excessive lawn irrigation has kept the water system at capacity for the past several weeks, threatening the integrity of the community’s wells. WECT-TV Channel 6 (Wilmington, N.C.), June 19, 2024

Aqua NC has reminded customers to conserve water as the NC Drought Management Advisory Council upgraded drought conditions across the state. With New Hanover and Brunswick counties in abnormally dry conditions, customers are required to adhere to a mandatory odd-even spray irrigation schedule. WECT-TV Channel 6 (Wilmington, N.C.), June 27, 2024

Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek announced a drought declaration for Jefferson County through Executive Order 24-08 and directed state agencies to coordinate and prioritize assistance to the region, granting a request that was originally denied by state officials. This is the sixth consecutive drought declaration for Jefferson County. Below-normal precipitation, streamflow and groundwater conditions continue to indicate persistent drought conditions in the basin. Precipitation has been below average in Jefferson County since 2018. KTVZ-TV NewsChannel 21 (Redmond, Ore.), June 27, 2024 Although the State of Oregon denied Jefferson County’s request for a drought declaration, due to the normal snowpack, increasing streamflows and rising water storage levels, farmers were still having to get by with about half of their normal water deliveries for the sixth consecutive year. Several farms will no longer be farmed. One livestock company has to get feed by rail from the Midwest, which increases expenses considerably. They have quite a bit of farmland, but about half of it was fallow. A purple coneflower grower used to be the largest producer in the U.S. While his production is usually in the range of 35,000 to 45,000 pounds, this year he has just 510 pounds. Irrigators in the North Unit Irrigation District will get a little more than half of the full water allocation for the sixth year of drastically reduced water deliveries. Some generational farmers were choosing to stop farming. Some local businesses have shifted operations or moved elsewhere. One business shut down its seed division; another shut down its fertilizer division; and a tractor sales and service company relocated to another town. Jefferson County officials saw the difficulties that the water shortage was causing farmers and businesses and requested the drought declaration in March. The Oregon Water Resources department will reevaluate Jefferson County’s drought declaration request each month. In the meantime, the state is willing to help Jefferson County farmers appeal directly to the federal government for assistance. Central Oregon Daily News (Bend, Ore.), May 22, 2024

Drought in Tazewell County was drying up water sources, turning pastures into barren fields and cutting into hay production. “The amount of hay that we’ve lost, the amount of grazing that’s being suppressed. Farmers are having to sell their cattle earlier than they would have because there’s not enough grass and forage for them to continue grazing,” according to the extension agent for the county. WVVA (Bluefield, W.V.), June 26, 2024

Stage 1 Fire Restrictions took effect on the Navajo Nation effective immediately in response to severe drought conditions and increasing fire hazards after Navajo Nation Buu Nygren signed an executive order. A number of wildfires were already burning in Arizona and New Mexico. The order also prohibits the sale, possession, or use of fireworks and other pyrotechnics on Navajo lands as well as open fires and the use of charcoal or coal outdoors. Hoodline Phoenix (Ariz.), June 26, 2024

Heat and the lack of rain has hurt dryland crops in Orangeburg County. The yield potential of the dryland corn has been severely affected, according to an Orangeburg County Clemson extension agent. He thought that some dryland fields would have a significantly reduced or even near zero yield. Irrigated corn looks about average or above average. Some of the corn was already dried up and will not benefit from forecast rain. Dryland crops such as cotton, peanuts, soybeans, sorghum, sesame and hay have not made good stands. The Times and Democrat (Orangeburg, S.C.), June 25, 2024

A water drought emergency ordinance continued in Galena. The order came from the state through the Kansas Department of Health and Environment and required the city to establish three stages of water conservation measures in case of an emergency. The city relies on wells and is striving to get another one up and running. Fourstates Homepage (Joplin, Mo.), June 25, 2024

The heat and lack of rain were killing crops in Harnett County. Corn stalks with wilted leaves stood on parched, dry soil. The corn ought to be taller than the six-foot six-inch farmer, but was shorter. The farmers market did not have the usual variety of produce for sale because the lack of rain and intense heat have hurt crops. Butter beans was one item not available. WNCN-TV NBC 17 (Raleigh, N.C.), June 25, 2024

Flash drought was affecting crops in the Appomattox area. In addition, the ground was so hard that a farmer has a field that was not in use because he cannot plant. WSET-TV ABC 13 (Lynchburg, Va.), June 24, 2024

Dry weather in the Charlottesville area has caused river levels to drop, which has affected recreation. The Rivanna River Company paused most downriver paddling and tubing as of June 15 because the Rivanna River was very low. Rafting trips were also at a standstill on the James River. Tubing and canoeing/kayaking trips were still a possibility, but people needed to watch for rocks. CBS 19 News (Charlottesville, Va.), June 25, 2024

Multiple fires have burned in Henrico County in recent days as dry conditions increased the fire danger. A 70-acre brush fire on June 24 damaged several homes. An official with the Virginia Department of Forestry very strongly suggests that the public avoid outdoor burning. WRIC-TV (Richmond, Va.), June 26, 2024

Residents of Staunton were asked to conserve water voluntarily after the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality issued a drought warning advisory for the city and larger Shenandoah region. “The water level in the Staunton Reservoir, one of the city’s drinking sources, is dropping,” according to Staunton’s engagement and communications manager. “Water stopped overflowing the dam at the end of last week. Groundwater levels have also dropped from low to very low. Hotter temperatures and lack of rainfall have led to higher water usage.” WHSV Online (Harrisonburg, Va.), June 25, 2024

The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, working with the Virginia Drought Monitoring Task Force, issued a drought warning advisory for 12 counties and a drought watch advisory for 95 counties and cities affecting all regions of the Commonwealth. The lack of precipitation and heat led to a “rapid intensification of drought throughout the majority of the Commonwealth with substantial below-normal observations noted within the Northern Virginia and Shenandoah drought evaluation regions,” according to the DEQ. A drought warning advisory, indicating a significant drought is imminent, was in effect for the Shenandoah region, which encompasses Augusta, Rockingham, Shenandoah, Frederick, Page, Warren and Clarke counties, and for the Northern Virginia Region that covers Fauquier, Loudoun, Prince William, Arlington and Fairfax counties. The remainder of the state was in a drought watch advisory, which is meant to help the public prepare for a potential drought. Stream flows and groundwater levels were all at or below the 25th percentile. WDBJ7 (Roanoke, Va.), June 24, 2024

Voluntary water restrictions took effect in Gretna until further notice to conserve water amid the drought. KETV Newswatch 7 (Omaha, Neb.), June 25, 2024

Some Virginia farmers were being prevented from double-cropping. They were waiting for rain because the ground was too hard to get seed planted. Gazette Leader (Fairfax, Va.), June 21, 2024

Franklin County Commissioners issued an emergency burn ban proclamation due to drought and high temperatures. The burn ban will be in effect until further notice. The use of aerial fireworks was discouraged. Eagle Country (Lawrenceburg, Ind.), June 20, 2024

Southeast Colorado winter wheat was expected to see a high level of abandonment due to dry weather. Kiowa County Press (Eads, Colo.), June 15, 2024

The lack of rain in Carteret County in eastern North Carolina has stressed the field corn. A local farmer stated that some of the crops were “already shot” and were done for the season, while others might hang on a while longer. NewsChannel 12 (New Bern, N.C.), June 19, 2024

A McPherson wheat grower was frustrated that the wheat harvest was delayed by rain and mud, yet his crop yield was depressed by drought. The grain quality was excellent, and test weights were about 60 pounds per bushel. The interim general manager of the Pawnee County Co-op Association has seen 55 harvests and says that this one is the next to the lowest year. Drought and the wheat streak mosaic virus took a toll on the grain yields and test weights. The co-op had received just 341,000 bushels so far this year, compared to 450,000 bushels last year. A Montgomery County wheat grower reported yields averaging 40 to 70 bushels per acres with test weights averaging 62 pounds per bushel. KSN.com (Wichita, Kan.), June 19, 2024

The Rio Grande Valley has been dry for most of the growing season, which pushed the harvest later and longer than usual. Watermelons were still being picked last week. The drier weather and limited irrigation water in the Valley shifted some production to the Winter Garden. The lack of irrigation water in the Rio Grande Valley also led to more watermelons being grown in the Winter Garden. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), June 18, 2024