Drought

July runoff in the Missouri River Basin above Sioux City, Iowa was 2.0 million acre-feet (MAF), 62% of average. The annual runoff forecast above Sioux City, Iowa is 19.2 MAF, 75% of average. “Above-normal precipitation occurred in much of the basin, though areas of western Montana and Wyoming continue to be very dry,” said John Remus, chief of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Missouri River Basin Water Management Division. “The dry soil moisture, below-normal rainfall in the mountain regions, and below-normal mountain snowpack runoff have led to well below-average reservoir inflows into Fort Peck and Garrison this summer.” Per the July 1 System storage check, navigation flow support continued to be 4,500 cubic feet per second (cfs) below the full-service level. The flow support season length will be a full 8-month season, ending Dec. 1 at the mouth of the Missouri River. Gavins Point Dam releases were currently 23,000 cfs. The six mainstem power plants generated 766 million kWh of electricity in July, compared to the typical energy generation for July is 949 million kWh. The power plants were expected to generate 8.0 billion kWh this year, compared to the long-term average of 9.4 billion kWh. US Army Corps of Engineers, Aug 7, 2025

Reservoir storage levels in the Yakima Basin have fallen to their lowest since record-keeping began in 1971, leaving irrigators grappling with severe drought conditions. Junior water rights holders in the Yakima Basin were projected to receive only 40% of their estimated water allotment this year. Senior water rights holders will still receive their full allotment. As of August 1st, reservoir storage was at 39% capacity, holding just under 415,000 acre-feet of water, which is 55% of the average. KIMA-TV (Yakima, Wash.), Aug 7, 2025 Yakima River basin irrigators with junior water rights will receive 40% of their full allotments as the bureau updated its outlook on July 30 while warning that the water supply could fall as low as 35%. The next forecast update will be Aug. 7. At 40% of a full allotment, the water shortage rivals the record low 37% that supply irrigators received in 1994 and 2001. Irrigators with senior water rights that were issued before 1905 will still get 100% of their requested water, while junior water rights holders have gotten less than a full allotment for the past three summers. Capital Press (Salem, Ore.), July 31, 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

High winds and extreme drought conditions in northwest Colorado have driven the rapid growth of two wildfires this week near Meeker in Rio Blanco County. The Lee Fire, west of Meeker, nearly doubled in size Tuesday, August 5, and has burned 22,497 acres, mostly on Bureau of Land Management land south of Colorado Highway 13. About 20 miles to the east, the Elk Fire was estimated at 8,304 acres. Both fires were believed to have been started by lightning strikes on Aug. 2. Colorado Newsline (Denver), Aug 6, 2025

Austin Water has asked residents to continue conserving water to keep water bills low and protect the vital resource. Due to recent rainfall, Austin’s lakes were nearly full. CBS Austin (Texas), Aug 6, 2025

The Bureau of Land Management planned to conduct an emergency gather of wild horses on or around August 8 using traps. The goal was to remove about 215 horses from drought-affected Maverick-Medicine herd management area and the Wood Hills area, as well as private lands in the Elko area. Due to exceptional drought and minimal forage growth, the health of the land and wild horse population were at risk. KOLO 8 News (Reno, Nev.), Aug 6, 2025

Cedar City officials urged residents to conserve water as water use has risen slightly to 200 gallons daily per capita. Water use was 181 gallons in 2023 and 184 gallons in 2024. The aquifer west of Quichapa Lake fell from 48 feet below the surface in 1994 to 124 feet last year. St George News (Utah), Aug 5, 2025

Farmers in Washington County had just 40% to 50% of their usual water allotments which prevented them from irrigating as much as they needed. Some farmers were opting to pump groundwater, despite the high expense. ABC4 (Salt Lake City, Utah), Aug 4, 2025

Oregon Governor Tina Kotek declared a drought emergency for Douglas, Union and Morrow counties on Aug. 4. The drought declaration makes accessible a number of drought-related emergency tools. KPIC-TV (Roseburg, Ore.), Aug 4, 2025

Nine wildfires across the Western Slope have charred nearly 32,000 acres in Delta, Garfield, Mesa, Montrose and Rio Blanco counties and in parts of eastern Utah. At least five of the blazes were caused by lightning. Denver7 (Colo.), Aug. 4, 2025

The city of Yachats requested that residents conserve water by restricting the number of days that they perform outdoor watering after the month of July was unusually dry. Lincoln Chronicle (Ore.), Aug 3, 2025

The bag limit was lifted for rainbow trout and bass in the Thief Valley Reservoir from Aug. 1 through Sept. 30 as the reservoir was expected to be completely drawn down by the end of August. Minimum and maximum size limits were suspended. Harvest by hand, dip net, and angling were all permitted. Elkhorn Media Group (Pendleton, Ore.), Aug 4, 2025

The lack of rain left Ottawa County blueberries smaller and less sweet than they have been in previous years. WOOD TV (Grand Rapids, Mich.), Aug 1, 2025

Jackson Hole Fire and EMS enacted the same restrictions Monday, July 28, for Alta with approval from the Teton County, Wyoming, Board of County Commissioners. Jackson Hole News & Guide (Wyo.), July 30, 2025

The Teton County, Idaho, Fire Protection District implemented a burn ban on July 22 after a couple of blazes sparked in the area. Jackson Hole News & Guide (Wyo.), July 30, 2025

Irrigators in the Kittitas Reclamation District were notified that water deliveries would not continue through Oct. 15 but will end early on Aug. 13. The district won’t have enough water left to make the canal function. Capital Press (Salem, Ore.), July 31, 2025

The Dragon Bravo Fire burning along the Grand Canyon’s North Rim continued to grow, blackening more than 94,000 acres. The containment level dropped to 4% as the fire expanded to the north. The blaze began on July 4 and destroyed the Grand Canyon Lodge on the North Rim on July 12. KJZZ (Phoenix, Ariz.), July 30, 2025

Most of Texas' Coastal Bend received rain over the weekend, with totals between 0.5-1 inch. Soil moisture conditions continued to decline in most areas. Rice and corn harvests were in full swing. Grain sorghum harvest was complete with the exception of late-planted acres that followed failed cotton. Cotton harvest started in early planted fields and should progress well, although some fields were still maturing. Range and pasture conditions remained mostly fair to good due to earlier rains. Livestock remained in good condition thanks to earlier high-quality forage production. Pasture conditions began to decline due to dry conditions and heat, and hay harvest continued. Bermuda grass stem maggot and fall armyworms were active in hay fields. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), July 29, 2025

Cattle were increasingly crossing roads in search of water as drought persisted, so drivers were urged to be on the lookout. Flathead Beacon (Kalispell, Mont.), July 29, 2025

A cattle rancher in Heart Butte on the Blackfeet Reservation moved his livestock to a spring-fed pasture after his lake dried up, but the new pasture was trending drier. Flathead Beacon (Kalispell, Mont.), July 29, 2025

Soil moisture levels declined in East Texas with continued high temperatures and little to no rainfall. Subsoil and topsoil moisture conditions were adequate. Pasture and rangeland conditions were good overall. Hay production remained in full swing. Pond and creek levels began to drop. Cattle markets were strong and active in some counties. Livestock were in fair to good condition. Feral hog control was underway to mitigate damage. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), July 29, 2025