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Even though some water-use limits and penalties were lifted in January, the swings in precipitation indicate that water conservation is essential. The district has adequate water for 2022, but the concern is for the next year. CBS San Francisco (Calif.), Feb 3, 2022

The North Weld County Water District, which has had a moratorium on new water taps since late October, will install flow-control devices on water meters to prevent agricultural and commercial users from using more than their allocation of water amid the current drought. If the water supply decreases, water to the meters may be reduced or shut off. The district plans to install about 50 flow-control devices. Greeley Daily Tribune (Colo.), Feb 3, 2022

Whatcom County mayors from Ferndale, Blaine, Lynden, Everson, Nooksack, and Sumas sent a letter to the State Department of Ecology, Department of Natural Resources, Department of Agriculture, and Department of Natural Resources seeking help coping with the effects of extreme weather events. In the summer, the Nooksack River has too little water, except during flooding in the spring or fall. Low flows allowed more than 2,500 salmon to die, and berries, potatoes and other crops failed because there was not enough water for irrigation. MyNorthwest.com (Seattle, Wash.), Feb 3, 2022

North Weld County Water District’s moratorium on new water tap that began in late October 2021. The moratorium caused the issuance of new building permits in Severance to stop, leaving many development and national and local home-building projects on hold. Thirty-seven building permits that were in process were halted, while another 110 permits in the town’s service area were also affected. Hundreds of additional permits need to be pulled. Eaton also has an “effective moratorium” on building permits, and other neighboring communities are affected. Greeley Daily Tribune (Colo.), Jan 19, 2022

A burn ban was instituted for Union County on Jan. 31 and remained in effect until further notice. The area has been dry since fall. El Dorado News-Times (Ark.), Jan 31, 2022

The Oklahoma County countywide burn was extended on Jan. 31 for 14 days and took effect on Feb. 1. The ban originally went into effect on Jan. 18 due to the increased incidence of wildland fires. Thirty-three Oklahoma counties have bans on outdoor burning, including most counties west of Interstate 35. The Oklahoman (Oklahoma City, Okla.), Feb 1, 2022

More than half a dozen fires kept Montague County firefighters occupied on Jan. 29 and forced the evacuations of several homes along State Highway 59. One fire burned after someone violated the burn ban. Bowie News (Texas), Feb 2, 2022

Beef brisket and other cuts of meat continue to be pricey as drought, packing capacity and corn prices have influenced beef production. At the start of December, the cost of prime and USDA choice cuts was more than $280 per hundredweight. Texas A&M Today (College Station, Texas), Jan 28, 2022

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) will provide trout anglers in the greater Sacramento area with an unprecedented fishing opportunity this winter: the chance to catch brook trout from a half-dozen urban and suburban park ponds and lakes that are part of CDFW’s Fishing in the City program. California Department of Fish and Wildlife (Sacramento, Calif.), Jan 12, 2022

The S.C. Drought Response Committee met Feb. 1 to review the drought status of all counties in South Carolina and opted to declare the entire state free of drought. Above average precipitation totals in December and January allowed the Committee to remove the incipient drought status for the 34 counties. The wildfire threat was higher in December, prompting the incipient drought designation, but the wildfire threat has eased in the past 30 days, per the S.C. Forestry Commission. The South Carolina Drought Response Committee will continue monitoring conditions because some counties are still on the cusp of drought. Another call may be needed in early March. Orangeburg Times and Democrat (S.C.), Feb 1, 2022 The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources has declared drought conditions across the state, recognizing 34 counties as being in incipient drought. The meeting was called, due to wildfire concerns as the number of wildfires was nearly twice the 10-year average. By the first week of September, South Carolina had already had more than 1.5 times the 10-year average of wildfires. Rock Hill Herald (S.C.), Dec 10, 2021

Casper residents are reminded to care for their trees during the winter. The last few years of drought has meant low soil moisture, so adding mulch and watering the trees could help maintain tree health during the colder months. KGWN-TV (Cheyenne, Wyo.), Feb 2, 2022

As the level of Lake Powell continues to fall, water will be held back in the reservoir this spring to keep Powell from falling too low to generate power. The aim is to keep Powell above the critical elevation of 3,525 feet above sea level, which still allows a 35-foot buffer before Glen Canyon Dam’s hydropower turbines can no longer operate. Water from the upper basin reservoirs of Flaming Gorge, Blue Mesa and Navajo could also be sent down the Colorado River to Lake Powell, although at present those reservoirs are badly depleted and need heavy snowpack this winter. Meanwhile, the bureau and upper basin states continue to work on a new drought-response operations plan, which is expected to be completed in April. The Salt Lake Tribune (Utah), Jan 7, 2022

SPECIAL SAFETY NOTE: Everyone near and downstream from the burned areas should remain alert and stay updated on weather conditions that may result in heavy rains and increased water runoff. Flash flooding may occur quickly during heavy rain events-be prepared to take action. Current weather and emergency notifications can be found at the National Weather Service website: www.weather.gov/sto/. Caldor Post-Fire BAER—Preparing for Rain Events POST-FIRE WATERSHED CONDITIONS—KEY MESSAGES While many wildfires cause minimal damage to the land and pose few threats to the land or people downstream, some fires cause damage that requires special efforts to prevent problems afterwards. Thunderstorms and winter rain events in the Sierra Nevada mountains can result in high water runoff and flooding. Wildfire increases the potential for flooding, post-fire soil erosion and debris flows that could impact campgrounds, fishing areas, homes, structures, roads, and other infrastructure...

Texas A&M Forest Service is planning for several prescribed burns to take place on Wright Patman Lake land during 2022. Burn units identified as Big Creek ATV East, Kickapoo, Kickapoo East, Jackson Creek West, Kelly Creek/Boyscout, FM 2624/CR1211, Green’s Farm East/Moore’s Landing, Overcup and Green’s Farm West will be burned for a total of 3,316 acres. Big Creek ATV East – 554 acresProposed burning dates: 11/15/2021 – 5/15/2022 Kickapoo – 287 acresProposed burning dates: 11/1/2021 – 5/1/2022 Kickapoo East – 435 acresProposed burning dates: 1/31/2022 Jackson Creek West – 188 acresProposed burning dates: 11/1/2022 – 5/1/2022 Kelly Creek/Boyscout – 491 acresProposed burning dates: 11/1/2022 – 5/1/2022 FM 2624/CR 1211 – 96 acresProposed burning dates: 11/1/2022 – 5/1/2022 Green’s Farm East/Moore’s Landing – 618 acresProposed burning dates: 11/1/2022 – 5/1/2022 Overcup – 408 acresProposed burning dates: 11/1/2022 – 5/1/2022 Green’s Farm...

Texas A&M Forest Service is planning for several prescribed burns on Kirby State Forest land during 2022. During the year, a total of 289 acres will be burned on burn units identified as stands 1, 3, 6, 5, 58, 8 and 9. These burns are designed to meet multiple land management objectives including reducing the accumulation of hazardous fuels, improve forest health, improve access and visibility for forest management activities and improve wildlife habitat. Each prescribed burn unit has defined weather parameters and firing patterns to ensure the objectives for each unit have a high potential for success. Texas A&M Forest Service personnel will monitor all prescribed burns to evaluate achievement of goals and help guide future prescriptions.Stand 1 – 55 acresProposed burning dates: 1/28/2022Stand 3 – 60 acresProposed burning dates: 1/28/2022Stand 6 – 46 acresProposed burning dates: 10/15/21 – 4/15/2022  Stands 5, 58, 8, 9 – 128 acresProposed burning dates: 11/1/2021 –...

Texas A&M Forest Service is planning for prescribed burns to take place on Masterson State Forest land during 2022. Burn units identified as stands 4 and 8 will be burned for a total of 102 acres. The units have proposed burning dates of 11/1/2021 – 5/1/2022. These burns are designed to meet multiple land management objectives including reducing the accumulation of hazardous fuels, improve forest health, improve access and visibility for forest management activities and improve wildlife habitat. Each prescribed burn unit has defined weather parameters and firing patterns to ensure the objectives for each unit have a high potential for success. Texas A&M Forest Service personnel will monitor all prescribed burns to evaluate achievement of goals and help guide future prescriptions. Nearby residents can expect some lingering smoke effects overnight after the burns and may see some moderate to heavy smoke impacts for short periods during ignition operations. These effects will be...

Texas A&M Forest Service is planning for several prescribed burns to take place on Camp Bowie Texas Army National Guard land during 2022. Burn units identified as units 2, 4, 5, 7, 8 and 14 will be burned for a total of 2,092 acres. Unit 2 – 181 acresProposed burning dates: 2/7/2022 – 2/11/2022 Unit 4 – 485 acresProposed burning dates: 2/7/2022 – 2/11/2022 Unit 5 – 113 acresProposed burning dates: 2/7/2022 – 2/11/2022 Unit 7 – 407 acresProposed burning dates: 2/7/2022 – 2/11/2022 Unit 8 – 759 acresProposed burning dates: 2/7/2022 – 2/11/2022 Unit 14 – 147 acresProposed burning dates: 2/7/2022 – 2/11/2022 These burns are designed to meet multiple land management objectives including reducing the accumulation of hazardous fuels, improve forest health, improve access and visibility for forest management activities and improve wildlife habitat. Each prescribed burn unit has defined weather parameters and firing patterns to ensure the objectives for each...

Texas A&M Forest Service is planning for prescribed burns to take place Brodbeck-Hooper General Land Office tracts during 2022. Four units identified as stands 3, 4, 9 and 10 will be burned for a total of 135.7 acres this year. Stand 3 – 57 acres Proposed burning dates: 11/1/2021 – 4/29/2022 Stand 4 – 36 acresProposed burning dates: 11/1/2021 – 4/29/2022 Stand 9 – 20.7 acresProposed burning dates: 10/15/21 – 4/15/2022 Stands 10 – 22 acresProposed burning dates: 11/1/2021 – 4/29/2022 These burns are designed to meet multiple land management objectives including the improvement of timber stands and to improve wildlife habitat. Each prescribed burn unit has defined weather parameters and firing patterns to ensure the objectives for each unit have a high potential for success. Texas A&M Forest Service personnel will monitor all prescribed burns to evaluate achievement of goals and help guide future prescriptions. Nearby residents can expect some lingering smoke...