Drought

Dry conditions in 2021 allowed the Missouri River in Omaha to set a record for its lowest crest on modern record on Aug. 7, according to the National Weather Service and U.S. Geological Survey. Low water levels in 2021 prompted the Corps of Engineers to operate for drought conditions in July 2021 by reducing flows during navigation season and allowing minimal winter releases. Omaha World-Herald (Neb.), March 28, 2022 September precipitation and runoff were below average in the Missouri River Basin above Sioux City, Iowa. Runoff was 0.8 million acre-feet, 67% of the long-term average. “Releases from Gavins Point Dam will continue to be set to maintain navigation support at an intermediate service level,” according to the chief of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Missouri River Basin Water Management Division. The navigation flow support season ends on Dec. 1 at the mouth of the Missouri River. The 2021 calendar year runoff forecast for the upper Basin, which was updated on Oct. 1, is 14.8 MAF, 57% of average. Average annual runoff for the upper Basin is 25.8 MAF. If the forecast verifies, this runoff amount would be the 10th lowest runoff in 123 years of record-keeping. Nebraska City News-Press (Neb.), Oct 15, 2021 The July runoff above the Fort Peck Dam in Montana was the lowest on record, due to drought and heat, according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Navigation support will be maintained at an intermediate service level of 1,500 cubic feet per second below full-service levels through the end of the normal 8-month navigation flow support season. WOWT-TV NBC 6 Omaha (Neb.), Aug 5, 2021 The Missouri River Water Management Division will reduce navigation flow support for the second half of the navigation flow support season. The service level to support navigation will be lowered 1,500 cubic feet per second from full-service levels. NewsDakota (Valley City, N.D.), July 2, 2021

The Mendocino City Community Services District Board of Directors declared a Stage 4 Drought effective immediately, which requires a 40% reduction in water use. The Mendocino Beacon (Calif.), March 31, 2022

After the first three months of 2022 were the driest on record in California, the water supply for all Central Valley Project municipal and industrial water service contractors has been reduced to Public Health and Safety effective April 1. Bureau of Reclamation (Washington, D.C.), April 1, 2022 Initial water allocations for 2022 for contractors of the Central Valley Project indicated that most irrigation districts in the Sacramento and San Joaquin valleys should expect to get no water this year. The weather has been dry since the start of the year. In the first two weeks of February, 1.2 million acre-feet of inflow for Shasta, Folsom and Oroville were lost. This year could even turn out to be worse than 2021. Most cities will get a 25% allocation, while some will receive just enough to cover “public health and safety needs,” which means 55 gallons per person daily. Wildlife refuges should receive a 75% allocation. In January, State Water Project customers learned that they would receive a 15% allocation. The Sacramento Bee (Calif.), Feb 23, 2022

Solvang’s Stage Two Drought Resolution remains in effect until the city council decides to lift it. In the meantime, the drought continues to be serious, and water conservation is needed. Noozhawk.com (Santa Barbara, Calif.), Oct 26, 2021 Solvang City Council members declared a Stage 2 drought on Aug. 23, and mandatory water restrictions will take effect after the September meter reading. Those who do not conserve will be fined. A Stage 1 drought emergency began in April, but rather than falling, water use rose 15% in May, 7% in June and 10% in July. As water supplies dropped, water use increased 22%. As of Aug. 23, Cachuma Lake was below 52% capacity. Lompoc Record (Calif.), Sept 22, 2021

Oregon Gov. Kate Brown signed an executive order on March 21 declaring a drought emergency for three counties—Jefferson, Crook and Morrow. Low snowpack, low reservoir levels and low streamflow were anticipated to cause natural and economic disasters in those counties. The Madras Pioneer (Ore.), March 30, 2022

The pastor of a rural church held a “Pray for Rain” worship service as drought persists for a third year. People attended from as far away as Wyoming. Some ranchers are considering selling off their herds if they don't have enough grass for their cattle this spring and summer. Hay stockpiles are dwindling, and some ranchers anticipate just half of normal grass production this year. “Pray for Rain. Plan For Drought,” is a special project by the South Dakota Grassland Coalition and its partners. The purpose of the project is to provide resources to help mitigate the impacts of long-term drought conditions. South Dakota Public Broadcasting (Vermillion, S.D.), March 31, 2022

After a very dry winter, Arizona's wildflower season is below average. Although some rain fell late in the winter, it arrived after the germination period, leaving wildflowers rather scarce this spring. Cronkite News (Ariz.), March 31, 2022

The City of Nampa is establishing a task force to plan and educate residents on best practices for water conservation since the water supply is expected to be below normal and drought is expected to persist. The current snowpack in the Boise River basin is 64% of normal. Boise State Public Radio (Idaho), March 31, 2022

Sanibel Fire & Rescue District banned all open burning on the island effective immediately due to the extremely dry conditions. The drought index in Lee County was above 650. Santiva Chronicle (Fla.), March 31, 2022

Water restrictions have affected some landscaping businesses in the Salt Lake City area as some customers reduced or stopped using lawn care services. People have also begun using soil moisture manager products to keep water in the soil longer. KSL Newsradio 102.7FM 1160AM (Salt Lake City, Utah), March 28, 2022

Half Moon Bay’s main water provider, the Coastside County Water District, declared a water shortage emergency on March 24, prompting a move to the second stage of the Water Shortage Contingency Plan. The aim is to reduce water sales by 17 percent, mostly through curbing outdoor irrigation by 50 percent from 2020 levels. All residential customers are asked to keep their water use to 50 gallons or less daily. Some mandatory restrictions took effect also. People are not to use water to clean pavement, except for health or safety reasons, or use a hose without a shut-off nozzle. Half Moon Bay Review (Calif.), March 30, 2022

Some Nevada ranchers were already hauling water for livestock, per a rangeland management specialist for the Bureau of Land Management. Reno Gazette (Nev.), March 30, 2022

Seasonal creeks and ponds were going dry in many parts of California; reduced forage has many ranchers selling livestock early; and some grains in San Joaquin County are not expected to reach crop size and were instead used for grazing, according to a University of California Cooperative Extension person. Reno Gazette (Nev.), March 30, 2022

Ten counties in west and central North Dakota have burning restrictions because the fire danger is very high. The Bismarck Tribune (N.D.), March 28, 2022 A fire emergency and burn ban took effect for Morton County due to present and forecasted dry weather conditions after commissioners made the declarations valid through Oct. 1, 2022. Several other counties also have burn bans, including McKenzie, Bottineau, Mountrail, Renville, Burke, and Stutsman. KX Net (Bismarck, N.D.), March 23, 2022

Conditions in West Central Texas were dry and windy. The forecasted rain did not deliver, and high winds worsened conditions. Wheat remained in very poor condition. Some producers started to turn on irrigation to build some soil moisture for corn acres. Producers reduced livestock inventory as feeding costs were higher than potential price gains. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), March 29, 2022 Very dry conditions caused extreme fire danger across the region, worsened by extreme winds. Wildfires broke out around the area and burned an estimated 8,000 acres in Coleman County. Several head of livestock were lost to the fire. Rangelands and pastures were in poor to fair condition. The winter wheat crop was in mostly poor to fair condition. Spring growth was slow due to dry conditions. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), March 22, 2022 Pastures in west central Texas greened up a bit, but they still needed moisture. While some field preparations for sorghum planting began, many producers were waiting for moisture. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), March 15, 2022 Wildfire danger remained high in West Central Texas. The area needed a good rain, but there was no significant precipitation in the forecast. Drought conditions continued to persist and intensify. Rangeland and pasture conditions remained poor to fair, with little emergence of late-planted cool-season grasses. Farmers were waiting for rain to get fields ready to plant. Livestock remained in decent body condition due to supplemental feeding. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), March 8, 2022

A temporary burn ban was issued for Cape Coral to reduce the fire risk in the city. Recreational burns like fire pits and campfires are prohibited, as are permitted burns like bonfires and land clearing burns. The burn ban will remain in effect until the drought index falls below 600 for seven consecutive days. WINK-TV WinkNews.com (Fort Myers, Fla.), March 29, 2022

An abundance of fuel plus dry, windy weather has allowed numerous wildfires to burn in Texas. In Eastland County, more than 54,000 acres burned, while the Crittenberg Complex charred more than 33,000 acres in Coryell County through March 28 and was 40% contained. A Bosque County blaze blackened 927 acres before being extinguished on March 28. Waco Tribune-Herald (Texas), March 28, 2022

Commissioners in Midland and Ector counties adopted 90-day burn bans, restricting most outdoor burning, due to the rising fire danger and the presence of ample brush produced from rains in 2021. KWES-TV NewsWest 9 (Odessa, Texas), March 28, 2022

The Turlock Irrigation District (TID) is allowing its farmers about 60% of normal supplies amid a third year of drought. The irrigation season began on March 29 with an allotment of 27 inches through the season which will end on Oct. 12. The Modesto Irrigation District, which also draws water from Don Pedro Reservoir like the TID, has designated 30 inches for its irrigators. The Merced Irrigation District will provide just 1.1 acre-feet of water, or about 13 inches, from the Merced River. The Modesto Bee (Calif.), March 28, 2022

Drought is drying up pastures earlier for a Santa Rosa dairy farmer who expects to spend at least $2,500 per load of hay for his cows. His water allocation from the Santa Rosa reclaimed water program rose slightly. In Solano County, some almond growers were replacing their trees with olive trees to curb water use. North Bay Business Journal (Santa Rosa, Calif.), March 28, 2022