Drought

Construction projects in Des Moines were ahead of schedule, thanks to the warm, dry weather this fall and winter. Significant progress has been made on projects downtown and on the Interstate 80 lane expansion. WHO-TV (Des Moines, Iowa), Dec18, 2023

Gov. Greg Abbott renewed a drought disaster declaration that originally was signed on July 8, 2022, attesting that exceptional drought conditions posed a threat of imminent disaster in several counties. Office of the Texas Governor | Greg Abbott, Dec 20, 2023

Lake Buhlow in Pineville has been closed due to the low water level. The lake will remain closed until water can be pumped in from the Red River. The 30-acre lake can hold nearly 59 million gallons to fill and is anticipated to be refilled over a 21-day period once the pump is there and operating, possibly at the end of January. In the meantime, the boat launch and dock have been repaired and the dock extended. Alexandria Town Talk (La.), Dec 20, 2023

Livestock producers continued to struggle to feed the animals. Hay and other winter forage material was in short supply, so many have been culled and sold. Alexandria Town Talk (La.), Dec 20, 2023

A Chattanooga plant nursery worker stated that they gave the Christmas trees a fresh cut when they arrived and put them in water. The trees were damaged from drought. Drought has also killed plants, requiring people to replace anything newly planted. WTVC-TV ABC 9 Chattanooga (Tenn.), Dec 20, 2023

Cattle producers in Missouri continued to worry about moisture as the state remained drought stricken. Producers need improvement in grass conditions before herd expansion can occur. Regarding cattle, the market news manager for Missouri’s Department of Agriculture stated, “We’ve sold more this year than we did last year. But we have to remember as well, the southern half of the state last year, we’re talking 2022, they sold a lot of cows. So we’ve been on nearly a 2-year liquidation cycle in the state of Missouri.” Brownfield Ag News (Jefferson City, Mo.), Dec 19, 2023

Some of Wisconsin's Christmas tree growers lost 75% to 100% of the seedlings planted this year. INFORUM (Fargo, N.D.), Dec 18, 2023

Nearly 50% of the seedlings planted on a Christmas tree farm in Garfield were lost amid the hot, dry summer. INFORUM (Fargo, N.D.), Dec 18, 2023

Stage 2 water restrictions took effect in Nocona on Aug. 28 when Lake Nocona fell below 824 msl for 30 days. Because the lake has fallen below 822 msl for 15 days, Stage 3 began on Dec. 13. Bowie News Online (Texas), Dec 16, 2023

A cattle producer in Webster County reported that he had to feed hay early, due to drought. Hay production was down 40% for some. Some farmers have even gotten out of the cattle business. A bale of hay was selling for about $65 to $85, compared to around $100 at this time last year. KY3 (Springfield, Mo.), Dec 18, 2023

Frederick Water and the Frederick County Administrators have reinstituted a Drought Emergency that took effect Wednesday, Nov. 15. Groundwater levels have been declining and October precipitation was just 25% of normal. The River 95.3 WZRV (Front Royal, Va.), Nov 14, 2023

Houston has moved from stage two to stage one of its drought contingency plan, meaning that water restrictions were no longer mandatory. Water conservation was again voluntary. Click2Houston (Texas), Dec 15, 2023 Stage two drought restrictions, which began on Aug. 27, remain in effect for Houston water customers. CW39 Houston (Texas), Oct 19, 2023

The low level of Lake Vermilion during the late summer into the fall caused some taste and odor concerns for water customers in Danville, Tilton, Westville and Catlin. Vermilion County First (Danville, Ill.), Dec 14, 2023

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources started “preseason” stocking with the first of about 290,000 trout in Maryland waters statewide. The early stocking will reduce overcrowding in coldwater hatcheries due to drought. Continuing drought has caused historically low flows at the spring-fed Albert Powell Hatchery and Cushwa rearing facility in Washington County, leading them to close two of the 19 outdoor holding areas called raceways. The hatchery also was closely monitoring water conditions to ensure survival of the maximum number of trout. Tri-State Alert (Chambersburg, Pa.), Dec 8, 2023

The hot, dry summer wiped out about 1,000 Christmas tree seedlings that were planted on a tree farm near Coesse. They intend to replant. WFFT-TV FOX 55 (Fort Wayne, Ind.), Dec 13, 2023

Coyotes were causing people around Gentilly to be concerned about the safety of children and pets. Drought was thought to be one factor contributing to a greater presence of coyotes in the area. The animals have been taking neighborhood chickens, crossing backyards and jumping across cars. A Nuisance Wildlife Control Operator said that there had been an increase in calls about coyotes over the last six months. FOX 8 (New Orleans, La.), Dec 13, 2023

Hanover officials asked residents to report any suspected water theft while the area was under mandatory water restrictions. Community members were urged to be on the lookout for questionable hookups or usage from water mains, fire hydrants or local reservoirs. The water restrictions also apply to water customers in Penn and Heidelberg townships in York County and Conewago Township and McSherrystown in Adams County, as Hanover Borough supplies water to those municipalities. Water conservation was needed due to unusually low rainfall and continuing renovation of the Sheppard-Myers reservoir. York Dispatch (Pa.), Dec 14, 2023

Osceola has about 200 days' worth of water left and hopes to be allowed to use treated wastewater to refill West Lake, its main water source. Osceola has endured three years of drought. If the Iowa Department of Natural Resources approves the proposal, Osceola would be the first community in the state to use its own wastewater. Des Moines Register (Iowa), Oct 26, 2023

About 70% of seedlings planted at a Christmas tree farm near Ely died, for a loss of $900 to $1,000. The tree grower said that trees may take seven to nine years, or even longer, to reach a saleable size. This tree farm specializes in larger 12-to-14-foot trees. The owner intends to bring in some pre-cut trees to supplement his stock. KCRG (Cedar Rapids, Iowa), Dec 13, 2023

Drought killed seedling Christmas trees this year in eastern Nebraska and likely slowed the growth of mature ones. Growers near Lincoln and Omaha stopped selling trees early to save some for future years. A grower north of Omaha planted seedlings in April and then May turned out to be the driest on record for Omaha. They are trying a new strategy for tree planting in which they plant the seedlings into peat pots to get them started before putting them in the ground in the fall. A Christmas tree grower north of Lincoln planted about a thousand Scotch pine seedlings and lost nearly all of them, due to the intensely dry conditions in April and May. The past two summers irrigation has been needed. Nebraska tree growers haven’t always needed irrigation as they have in recent years. Omaha World-Herald (Neb.), Dec 13, 2023