Drought

Years of drought, recent rainfall, combined with warm winter temperatures, have created good conditions for the widespread development of stripe rust in Texas. “Stripe rust is extensive this year, and we’ve been seeing it in our wheat trial plots and in producers’ fields for the past few weeks,” said an AgriLife Extension statewide small grains specialist in the Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Bryan-College Station. “Leaf rust came on a little later but has not been as widespread as the stripe rust.” AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), April 16, 2024

A drought emergency was declared for most of Washington due to the low snowpack and the forecast for a warm, dry spring and summer. Many watersheds were already projecting low water supplies and planning for emergency water right transfers. The Department of Ecology declared a drought to make up to $4.5 million available in drought response grants available before those impacts become severe. The new declaration will extend into 2025. Seattle, Tacoma and Everett were not included in the new drought declaration. State of Washington Department of Ecology (Olympia, Wash.), April 16, 2024 Forecasted runoff remained below 75% of normal water supply, which may cause undue hardship for water users and the environment. Agricultural areas such as the Columbia Basin could be harshly affected. Ecology is making up to $4.5 million available in drought response grants to qualifying public entities in response to impacts from the present drought conditions. KEPR 19 (Pasco, Wash.), April 18, 2024

Drought and the pine beetle infestation in Mississippi in 2023 ravaged the state’s forests, leading the U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency to declare a state of emergency. Landowners may receive up to $500,000 each to save private tree farms through a forest restoration program. WAPT Channel 16 (Jackson, Miss.), April 17, 2024

Cameron County has issued a disaster declaration due to a critical water shortage. Brownsville issued an ordinance prohibiting the construction of new car washes within five miles of each other. Texas Public Radio (San Antonio), April 17, 2024

A Sharp County cattle farmer felt that he was behind in hay production with grasses that were planted this winter not growing. Row crop growers in northeast Arkansas have found the dry weather of the past few weeks to be helpful and letting them get crops planted early. With seeds in the ground, rain was needed to get them to germinate. KAIT 8 (Jonesboro, Ark.), April 15, 2024

Some drought stress was observed among the wheat crop in central Kansas.

A Hidalgo County judge issued a disaster declaration on Tuesday, April 9 concerning the ongoing drought. Due to “the prolonged period of exceptional drought conditions,” the declaration stated the drought conditions “pose an imminent and continuous threat of widespread or severe damage, injury or loss of life or property and to public health, municipal water supplies and agricultural production.” The declaration took effect immediately and will last for seven days. The Hidalgo County Commissioners Court may extend the declaration at their next meeting on April 16. ValleyCentral.com (Brownsville, Texas), April 9, 2024

All commercial and recreational salmon fishing off the coast of California was canceled for the second consecutive year for just the fourth time in state history, due to the meager salmon population. The Pacific Fishery Management Council, the authority responsible for setting Pacific salmon seasons, voted unanimously for the closure. The fishing industry supports many thousand jobs and was still feeling the effects of the shutdown last year. In 2023, a little more than 6,100 fall-run Chinook, returned to the upper Sacramento River to spawn, according to a February report by the fishery council. The average between 1996 and 2005 was more than 175,000 fish. The council also recommends that the California Fish and Game Commission ban river fishing. The Associated Press (New York), April 10, 2024

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources cautioned boaters that launching vessels could be challenging this spring due to lower than normal water levels in many lakes and rivers. DNR crews were repairing boat ramps damaged over winter and will extend boat ramps when possible. Those with larger boats will have to pay particular attention to ramp lengths and water depths. Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (St. Paul, Minn.), April 4, 2024

The Barton Springs Edwards Aquifer Conservation District went from Stage 3 Critical Drought to Stage 2 Alarm Drought on March 1. The district entered Stage 3 in October 2022 and went to Stage 4 Exceptional Drought in December 2023. Several inches of rain in the first two months of 2024 enhanced the flow at Barton Springs and helped refill the Edwards and Trinity Aquifers and area creeks. KVUE News (Austin, Texas), March 1, 2024 The Barton Springs Edwards Aquifer Conservation District board of directors voted to move to a Stage 4 Exceptional Drought declaration, the first time such a declaration had ever been made. Stage 4 would mean significant pumping restrictions and permanent reclassification for certain District permittees beginning Jan. 1, 2024. KXAN (Austin, Texas), Dec 15, 2023

Water restrictions were in effect for the Tama County fire departments regarding conserving water during training. A mandatory water conservation order has been in effect for the county since March 13. Times-Republican (Marshalltown, Iowa), April 3, 2024

The fall drought in South Carolina forced an Oconee County farmer to plant her grass later than ever before in December. That grass, which would normally be six to eight inches tall, was barely two inches tall as of February 2024. The 2023 drought led her to spend $7,000 more on hay than in the year prior. Farmers attest that drought in the state began well before it was officially declared by the South Carolina Drought Response Committee. In October 2023, the committee recognized 23 of the state’s 46 counties as being in drought. But the Oconee County farmer noticed dry conditions as early as June 2023. The committee considers water levels in lakes and streams, wildfire threat level, precipitation and soil condition when monitoring drought. A grower in Greenville County planted and fertilized his pasture as usual in the fall, but the lack of soil moisture left the grass just two inches high in 2024. Greenville News (S.C.), April 2, 2024

Lake Travis was at 39% capacity and down nearly 38 feet below its historical average. The low water level was affecting business for a party boat rental company. Bookings were down about 25%, and potential water goers were concerned about safety. Boat ramps were closed due to the low water. KVUE News Online (Austin, Texas), March 29, 2024

The North Dakota Forest Service said that the fire season began the last week of February and will continue through May when green-up occurs, making it longer than normal this year. Twenty wildfires have already burned more than 500 acres. KFYR (Bismarck, N.D.), March 28, 2024

Hard freezes and drought in Louisiana reduced honey production in 2023. KADN-TV (Lafayette, La.), March 28, 2024

Some Micronesian islands, including Elato, Satawal and Lamotrek, experienced taro and coconuts reportedly drying up, water scarcity, low water wells or low drinking water. The Guam Daily Post (Tamuning, Guam), March 29, 2024

Jefferson County commissioners declared a local drought disaster and embarked on the process of requesting a state drought emergency declaration for the fifth consecutive year. Water supplies were low as Wickiup Reservoir held 152,504 acre-feet of water, compared to the historical average of 186,995 acre-feet at this time of year. The North Unit and Three Sisters irrigation districts were warning of more shortages and potential shutoffs in 2024. KTVZ-TV NewsChannel 21 (Redmond, Ore.), March 27, 2024

The growing population in the Austin area led the Lower Colorado River Authority Board of Directors to pass a new drought contingency plan for the more than three dozen Central Texas cities, water districts and industries that purchase water from the agency. The thresholds that trigger each drought stage are now lower than they were previously. LCRA customers are expected to observe the water restrictions, or face penalties, such as a verbal warning, a written notice, on up to a $10,000 per day fine. KVUE News (Austin, Texas), March 26, 2024

The low level of the Des Moines River has made water rescues more challenging for those who fall into the river near dams in the downtown area. The water extraction team can no longer perform rescues because the water is too shallow for the rescue boats. KCCI TV 8 (Des Moines, Iowa), March 23, 2024

Drought and recent rainfall have destabilized trees, allowing them to fall over. A driver near Beech Grove struck a pine tree that had fallen across a highway, but the person was not injured in the accident. Beaumont KFDM (Texas), March 22, 2024