Drought

As California enters its third year of drought, Gov. Gavin Newsom told cities and other local water agencies to curb water use and enact stage two of their water shortage contingency plans, but did not order mandatory statewide cutbacks as Gov. Jerry Brown did years ago. Newsom has asked for water conservation of 15% to little avail. Water conservation in January was less than 6%. California’s major reservoirs averaged about 69% of capacity, per the Department of Water Resources. Shasta Lake is about half full. The Sierra snowpack is about 39% of normal and has largely evaporated. Gov. Newsom also urged the State Water Resources Control Board to consider banning irrigation of “non-functional” grass, which would include decorative grass around commercial and industrial buildings. The governor also was expediting help for Central Valley communities that were affected by drought and urgently needed bottled water or other emergency supplies. He would hasten state agency approvals needed “to protect fish and wildlife where drought actions threaten their health and survival.” The Sacramento Bee (Calif.), March 28, 2022

A state of disaster declaration was also made for Medina County where Das Goat Fire has burned more than 1,000 acres since March 25. ABC News (New York), March 28, 2022 Greg Abbott issued a disaster declaration for 11 counties in response to wildfire activity as high winds, low humidity and drought elevated the fire risk. The 11 counties are Brooks, Brown, Coleman, Comanche, Eastland, Grayson, Mason, Potter, Randall, Reynolds, and Williamson. Office of the Governor - Greg Abbott (Texas), March 18, 2022

Siouxland producers would be wise to assess pasture condition to determine future feed needs. Some drought-affected pastures will need moisture and some time to regrow. The lack of snow this winter may also have allowed more winter kill. Sioux City Journal (Iowa), March 27, 2022

South Dakota farmers and ranchers expect drought to persist into spring. A corn and soybean farmer admitted that extremely high input costs make him and fellow farmers nervous with the dry conditions. Stock ponds and surface water are lower than usual for this time of year. KSFY-TV ABC 13 Sioux Falls (S.D.), March 27, 2022

As spring planting nears, farmers are weighing a lot of variables from drought, fertilizer and pesticide shortages and high prices to high grain prices and other factors. Many farmers listed weather and drought as their topmost concern. DTN – Progressive Farmer (Burnsville, Minn.), March 26, 2022

Stricter water conservation in Pleasanton starting in October 2021 has resulted in a usage reduction of 18%-22% and cost the water utility an estimated $3.2 million in revenue, which has drawn down the city’s financial reserves and risked its ability to finance an upcoming fix for Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) chemicals. Starting May 1, the city will increase its water rates and charge Stage Two Water Drought Rates, tacking on $0.65 per 100 cubic feet of water to single-family home water bills. Commercial and multi-family homes will see an added $0.62 per 100 cubic feet charge, and irrigation water users will see an added $0.65 per 100 cubic feet charge. This is the first time that Pleasanton’s drought rate activation has been used. Charges for May-June water use will appear on the July bill. Livermore Independent (Calif.), March 24, 2022

The Alameda County Water District, serving Fremont, Newark and Union City, increased the cost of every 100 cubic feet of water, or 748 gallons, used by $0.79, which adds about $6 to an average monthly bill. San Francisco Chronicle (Calif.), March 23, 2022

Water conservation has cost the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission millions of dollars as their customers use less water. Effective April 1, water and wastewater rates will be temporarily increased 5% for retail customers. The water conservation manager attested that the utility is not making a profit, but is just trying to recover their costs. Due to increased conservation, officials at the Public Utilities Commission project that the city will lose $66 million of revenue in the current fiscal year, from July 1, 2021, to June 30, 2022, representing about 6% of PUC’s water budget and about 7% of the annual wastewater budget. San Francisco Chronicle (Calif.), March 23, 2022

The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission urged almost 3 million water customers in the Bay Area to curb water use by 10% and declared a water shortage emergency due to the continuing drought. SFPUC serves water customers in San Francisco and portions of Alameda, Santa Clara and San Mateo counties. The SFPUC will also tack on a temporary drought surcharge of 5% for retail and wastewater customers, effective April 1, 2022. CBS San Francisco (Calif.), Nov 23, 2021

Areas of the Wild Turkey Strand Preserve were dry, although it is typically underwater during the summer. A marsh off of Daniels Parkway is dry, although the area is also typically underwater during the summer. Cypress trees and knees are exposed at the Corkscrew Regional Ecosystem Watershed, but this area, too, is typically underwater during the summer. Fort Myers News-Press (Fla.), March 22, 2022

San Benito County farmers will not receive state water for the rest of 2022. The San Benito County Water District, which distributes water to 500 agriculture accounts, was contracted to receive 35,500 acre-feet of water but has received none for the second year in a row. KSBW-TV Salinas (Calif.), March 23, 2022

The Brazos River Authority enacted a "Stage 1 Drought Watch" condition on March 21. Harker Heights residents are to reduce their water use by 5%. Harker Heights municipal water comes from Lake Belton. Killeen Daily Herald (Texas), March 21, 2022

Conditions remain very dry in central South Dakota as little snow fell this winter after an extremely dry 2021. Crop land, pastures and water supply are affected by the dryness. Last spring, dugouts for cattle had water, but this spring, there is little to no water and access is an issue. Producers will need to haul water. Some pastures are so dry that cattle cannot graze. Some producers are adjusting livestock stocking rates, considering alternate water for their cattle, and rethinking their crop rotation. Fire danger is a huge concern amid drought. KELOLAND-TV CBS 11 (Sioux Falls, S.D.), March 23, 2022

Ongoing drought conditions led the Twin Falls Canal Company to delay the water delivery date. Water will be available on April 25, about a week and a half later than the usual date of April 15. The date was postponed to make sure that there was enough water in the reservoir system to begin the irrigation season. Farmers were asked to adjust their planting schedule. Water shares will be 5/8 rather than the usual ¾. The Upper Snake reservoir system was only at 50% capacity. KEZJ-FM (Twin Falls, Idaho), March 22, 2022

The Jackson County Board of Commissioners declared a drought emergency on March 23 due to low water levels, making this the third consecutive year for such an emergency declaration. A declaration lets the Oregon Water Resources Department take steps such as allowing the supplemental use of ground water and prioritizing water for human and livestock use. Jackson County reservoirs are at extremely low levels and have the capacity to hold enough water for multiple years, but some are nearly dry. As of last week, stream flows were just 29% of average, according to Oregon Water Resources Department. Medford Mail Tribune (Ore.), March 23, 2022

Governor Gavin Newsom’s administration is spending an additional $22.5 million in response to the immediate drought emergency after the driest January and February in more than 100 years of records in the Sierra Nevada. The $22.5 million allocation includes more funding for the Department of Water Resources, State Water Resources Control Board and the California Department of Food and Agriculture. More than a third of the money, $8.25 million, will be used to increase outreach efforts to educate Californians on water conservation measures and practices. Governor (Sacramento, Calif.), March 13, 2022

The State Water Resources Control Board sent letters to about 20,000 water rights holders, including farms and cities, to warn them to prepare for mandatory cutbacks in a matter of weeks. The notices went to rights holders in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and the Russian, Scott, Shasta, Mill Creek and Deer Creek watersheds. In 2021, requests for curtailment came in August. This year, however, the request is coming in the spring, a dire warning that the drought is intense. The Sacramento Bee (Calif.), March 22, 2022

A wildfire burned about 900 acres in wooded canyons of southern Lincoln County for almost a week before firefighters were able to contain and extinguish the blaze. The area was nearly inaccessible so helicopters were used to drop water on the flames. North Platte Bulletin (Neb.), March 21, 2022

Drought conditions led the Sonoma County Water Agency to begin the annual process of drawing from the Russian River weeks earlier than normal. A rubber dam was inflated near Forestville on March 21 to create a small pool that the agency draws water from to use in four off-stream infiltration pools for recharging groundwater. KPIX-TV CBS 5 San Francisco (Calif.), March 22, 2022

A volunteer firefighter lost her life while battling a Comanche County fire. Six wildfires burned in Comanche County with three of them being larger than 100 acres. Two mandatory evacuation orders were issued for two parts of the county. Wildfires have been an issue in the region since December with low humidity, high winds and unusually warm temperatures. The Oklahoman (Oklahoma City, Okla.), March 22, 2022