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U.S. ranchers are selling more heifers as feeder cattle, indicative of the present drought environment, according to Livestock Marketing Information Center. Drovers (Lenexa, Ks.), Sept 3, 2021

The recent rain in South Dakota was too late to improve crop yields, and the strong winds and baseball-sized hail to some areas, laying the corn flat. Some corn growers in Tripp County were harvesting their corn for silage as some of it did not produce ears anyway. Sioux Falls Argus Leader (S.D.), Sept 7, 2021

Weston County producers reduced herd sizes due to minimal pasture grass and increased hay prices. Pastures were depleted throughout the county and there has not been much late season grass growth. There were similar comments in Goshen County of overgrazed pastures. Reports from Goshen County indicated the third cutting of hay is being grown mostly for tonnage, with quality reported as poor. Kiowa County Press (Eads, Colo.), Sept 9, 2021

Kiowa County crops were mostly in good condition, but some grain sorghum failed to head out, due to heat and dry weather. Kiowa County Press (Eads, Colo.), Sept 8, 2021

Notice: the incident management team has put the Ellis Fire in patrol status as of August 1, 2021.  Firefighters will continue to monitor this fire as necessary, but additional growth is unlikely.  Unless the status changes, this will be the last post for the Ellis Fire.The Ellis Fire, which is being managed as part of the Divide Complex with the Balsinger Fire, started on July 8, 2021 on the White Sulphur Springs Ranger District of the Helena-Lewis & Clark National Forest. The cause is under investigation. The fire is located in the Dry Range - East Fork, about 2.5 miles southwest of Smith River. Management of the Ellis Fire has been transferred back to the Helena-Lewis and Clark (8/12/2021) and has been contained. AdvisoriesDo not fly drones over the fire. If you fly, we can't.Please respect road closure. Traffic on closed roads creates safety hazards for firefighters and emergency vehicles.Firefighting resources are extremely limited. It is critically important that we all do...

The French Fire started on Aug. 18, west of Lake Isabella in Kern County. It has burned 26,535 acres with 99 percent containment. Crews continue to patrol, monitor and mop-up hotspots identified during a recent aerial flight. None of these heat sources affect the fire's perimeter. Repair WorkSeveral weeks of repair work are needed within the French Fire burn area. Heavy equipment crews are working in a clockwise rotation from Rancheria towards Alder Creek. The public should anticipate road closures with barriers.The cleanup continues of trees blocking the Alder Creek. Hand crews will be replacing damaged fence lines.Starting Oct. 6, Southern California Edison will be using a helicopter to set power poles on Rancheria and State Route 155 east of Summit Station. ClosureThe Sequoia National Forest is closed to all public access within the French Fire burn area. This includes hunters, OHV riders and wood cutters.Fuel TreatmentsYear-round, federal agencies conduct fuels treatments,...

The Greenwood Fire was detected on August 15, 2021 near Greenwood Lake on the Laurentian Ranger District. The fire is between Greenwood Lake and the intersections of Highways 1 and 2.  (https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/7808/64839/). The Greenwood Fire is managed under unified command with the Superior National Forest, Lake County Emergency Management, and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. At 8:00 a.m. Friday September 3rd, the Lake County Sheriff reopened the closed and evacuated section of Hwy 2 (between Forest Hwy 11 and Hwy 1) to home and cabin owners in the Greenwood Lake, Sand Lake, and Dunka River Road areas.  Each property owner will be given two check-point passes that will need to be shown each time they enter Hwy 2 through one of the check-points (either at the intersection of Forest Hwy 11 and Hwy 2 on the north end).  Passes are currently limited to property owners and their immediate families in order to limit traffic for crew safety.  For...

The Lava Fire started on 6/24/21 by lightning northeast of the community of Weed. The continued hard work from our local, regional and national firefighting resources has stopped the forward spread of this fire. This will be the last report unless significant fire activity occurs. Isolated interior smokes may be visible as stump holes continue to burn. Fire resource will continue to monitor and patrol the fire area as needed to keep the fire perimeter within its current

The Larkins Fire Complex is located on the St. Joe River Ranger district of the Idaho Panhandle National Forests. The Complex consists of 12 fires with a total of 3,358 acres in the Mallard Larkins Recommended Wilderness area near the Little North Fork of the Clearwater river. Visitors are reminded to heed the area closure, as well as other fire closures in the area. A reconnaissance of the Complex on 8/9 showed very low fire activity and little smoke. This may change as the weather heats up and dries fuels back

The Black Butte Fire is located 24.9 miles south of Unity, OR.  The fire started on 08/03/2021 following a lightning storm.      September 30, 2021 Update: Firefighters have made significant progress on the Black Butte Fire and it is now 100%

Lake Shasta is at its second lowest level since the dam was constructed in 1945. Boat docks are high and dry. Hydropower generation continues, as do releases for environmental and agricultural needs. The low water level also exposes interesting historical relics typically hidden beneath the water, such as train tunnels, the old Highway 99 roadbed and car bridges. Redding Record Searchlight (Calif.), Sept 28, 2021

Stage 1 drought restrictions took effect on Sept. 1 as the Edwards Aquifer water level fell to 659.8 feet. Community Impact – New Braunfels (Texas), Sept 1, 2021

The Marin Municipal Water District is seeking emergency state approval to withhold water from endangered coho salmon by reducing water releases into Lagunitas Creek this winter. Environmentalists are cognizant, however, that the district and water customers are not meeting their goal of cutting water use by 40% and still have other water-saving options available, such as banning lawn watering and pool filling. Marin Independent Journal (Calif.), Sept 2, 2021

The Marin Municipal Water District approved $2.2 million in contracts on a proposed emergency pipeline across the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge. The utility is proposing to construct a $65 million pipeline from Richmond to Marin County in case the coming winter is dry. The pipeline is not a done deal, and a feasibility study should be completed by early October to provide more information on the potential project. If the board goes ahead with the pipeline, it should be ready for use in June 2022 to carry water for the district’s 191,000 residents in central and southern Marin. Marin Independent Journal (Calif.), Aug 30, 2021

The National Park Service gave boat owners who store their boats at Elk Creek Marina 10 days to remove vessels from the water due to drought. Blue Mesa was less than 38% full as water was being sent downstream to prop up Lake Powell and prolong hydropower production. While releasing the water from Blue Mesa disrupted recreation on the reservoir, it enhanced rafting and fishing downstream of Blue Mesa. Colorado Public Radio (Centennial, Colo.), Sept 3, 2021

Ukiah officials announced on Aug. 31 that they were preparing to deliver water to coastal communities such as the village of Mendocino. Ukiah Daily Journal (Calif.), Aug 31, 2021

Soil moisture conditions were very short to short in most areas. Forages were browning due to heat and lack of moisture. Pasture and rangeland conditions were declining. Ranchers were storing hay and many reported three cuttings this season. Feed prices continued to increase. Supplemental feeding was increasing as well. Stock tanks needed replenishing in some areas but were full in others. Summer conditions were good for deer and quail, but drier conditions were pushing deer to browse along roadways. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), Sept 8, 2021 South Texas ranchers were providing supplemental feed to livestock and wildlife. Feed prices were rising. Stock tanks and pastures needed rain. Soil moisture was very short to short in the northern part of the district. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), Aug 24, 2021

Water was turned off to various parts of Mt. Diablo, due to drought. Water springs on Mt. Diablo were at a trickle, and water storage tanks were nearly empty. The higher one is on the mountain, the less likely there is running water. Bring plenty of bottled water if you visit. KRON4 (San Francisco, Calif.), Sept 1, 2021

Runoff has been below normal at the Garrison Dam, due to drought. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers requests that all owners of boats, watercraft or docks to remove their property from the Missouri River as the releases decrease from 21,000 cubic feet per second to 13,500 cfs by mid-September. Shallow waters meant danger from hitting barely submerged objects. Devils Lake was also low. KX News (Bismarck, N.D.), Sept 2, 2021