Drought

Stage 1 drought restrictions will begin on Sunday, March 13 because the 10-day average of the Edwards Aquifer index well level fell below 660 feet above mean sea level. San Marcos Daily Record (Texas), March 10, 2022

Starting in September 2021, Nebraska cattle producers began taking their animals to feed lots to get them ready for market. As of Feb. 1, 2022, there were 2.66 million head in Nebraska feed lots, which is the second highest in recorded history. The drought has dried rangeland in Montana, Wyoming, South Dakota and western Nebraska, causing some cowherd liquidation. Meat packers are very busy. KETV-TV (Omaha, Neb.) March 4, 2022

An increase in fires occurred between March 3 and March 5 with the South Carolina Forestry Commission recording 106 blazes that charred more than 1,500 acres statewide. The spate of fires led the South Carolina Forestry Commission to issue a Red Flag Fire Alert on March 7 to last several days. People are strongly encouraged to forego outdoor burning. The Post and Courier (Charleston, S.C.), March 7, 2022

Cash grain prices are at record highs with drought in winter wheat-producing areas of the U.S. and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Prices could climb higher still. Few farmers have any grain in the bin to sell in Montana as production was just 49% of the 10-year average due to drought in 2021. As Montana enters a second year of drought, farmers need good spring moisture to produce grain in 2022. Wheat in the Southern Plains is parched and not faring well, but could improve with moisture. Associated Press News (New York), March 5, 2022

South central Nebraska farmers were breaking up the ground before planting or running their pivot to moisten the soil to avoid damaging farm implements because the soil is so hard and dry. One farmer was fearful of using equipment in a dry field and accidentally sparking a fire. BrownfieldOnline (Jefferson City, Mo.), March 7, 2022

Oregon Gov. Kate Brown declared a state of emergency in Klamath County as the snowpack in the Klamath Basin was 60% of normal. Low snowpack and streamflow indicate that this will be a difficult year in the Klamath Basin as wells were already running dry. For central and southern Oregon, this is a third consecutive year of drought. Oregon endured its third driest period from October 2019 to September 2021 since records began in the late 1800s, per a climatologist at Oregon State University. The Oregonian (Portland), March 7, 2022

The Adkins Avenue Fire in Bay County has burned 1,400 acres through March 5 and was 30% contained, according to the Florida Forest Service. The blaze consumed two homes, damaged a dozen homes and led to the evacuation of 600 homes. Bay and Calhoun counties have burn bans, according to the Florida Forest Service Chipola Forestry Center. The area is in moderate drought with rainfall deficits of more than four inches in the last 30 days. The Adkins Avenue Fire is one of 143 active wildfires that have charred roughly 4,700 acres in Florida, including the 1,600-acre Bertha Swamp Fire in Gulf County. UPI (Washington, D.C.), March 5, 2022

An estimated 6% of the eggs that wild winter-run chinook salmon laid in the Sacramento River during the 2021 summer survived drought, so wildlife officials are taking extreme steps to protect the endangered population. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service released 400,000 juvenile salmon on March 2 from a hatchery into the river, after releasing almost 125,000 last month. Releases this year have been more than double that of releases in 2021. San Francisco Chronicle (Calif.), March 2, 2022

Aridification and drought are dropping the level of Lake Powell, leaving fewer options for putting a boat in the water as 2021 brought the water level down another 45 feet to about 25% of capacity. There will be one access open in March for speedboats and houseboats. The dock at Rainbow Bridge is no longer useable, and boat tours will not go there this summer. One of the guides operating a fishing guide service thinks it’s the beginning of the end for Lake Powell, fearing that the reservoir will return to just a stretch of river this decade. AZ Central (Phoenix), March 1, 2022

February runoff in the upper Missouri River was 78% of average due to below average snowpack and dry soils. Mountain snowpack is about 80% of normal. Starting mid-March, releases from Gavins Point Dam will increase to offer more flow in the river for barges and boats. Omaha World-Herald (Neb.), March 3, 2022

Shasta Lake was one of the many cities that learned that allocations from the Central Valley Project would be limited in 2022 and asked its customers to reduce water use and outdoor watering to conserve water. The Bella Vista Water District, serving Redding, Bella Vista and Palo Cedro, already asked its customers to reduce water use by 40%. Redding Record Searchlight (Calif.), March 3, 2022

A rare March wildfire in Pueblo County has blackened 230 acres. Ninety-one percent of Colorado is in drought and the snowpack was at 92% of the median to date. Out There Colorado (Colorado Springs), March 3, 2022

Since the start of 2022, 16 domestic wells in the Klamath Basin have run dry, which clearly does not bode well for the summer. Associated Press News (New York), March 2, 2022

Water and climate experts from Oregon, Washington and Idaho announced at a news conference hosted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration that parts of the region should prepare for a summer of severe drought, wildfires and historically low stream flows. Seventy-four percent of the Pacific Northwest is in drought with nearly 20% in extreme or exceptional drought. Oregon is expected to be hard hit as winter storms missed the state, leaving central and southern Oregon and southern Idaho in drought and without good snowpack. Most reservoirs in Oregon are 10% to 30% lower than they were at this time in 2021, with some at historic lows, meaning little water for crop irrigation. Associated Press News (New York), March 2, 2022

Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a statewide drought emergency in California and urged more water conservation. “As the western U.S. faces a potential third year of drought, it’s critical that Californians across the state redouble our efforts to save water in every way possible,” the governor said. Fifty of the Golden State’s 58 counties have been in a state of drought emergency since July, and Gov. Newsom added the eight remaining counties and reiterated his call for water conservation of 15%. The State Water Resources Control Board is also free to adopt emergency regulations to forbid wasting water. State water officials announced that Californians had conserved just 5% of their water use in August, which was an improvement over July when water conservation amounted to 1.8%. Some parts of the state were conserving better than others. Local water suppliers must implement their water shortage contingency plans at “a level appropriate to local conditions that takes into account the possibility of a third consecutive dry year.” During the previous drought, Gov. Jerry Brown mandated water conservation of 25% in urban water use. Los Angeles Times (Calif.), Oct 19, 2021

West Central Texas benefited from scattered showers, but all areas needed more rainfall. Wheat was germinating, but this will likely have a negative impact on overall grain production, as late-germinating wheat may not vernalize. Fields were being prepared for spring planting but moisture will be needed before seed goes in the ground. Livestock were being fed and hayed to maintain body condition. AgriLife (College Station, Texas), March 2, 2022 Some beneficial rain fell in the past two weeks in West Central Texas. Forages were extremely dry and very few winter annuals were present. Wildfire outbreaks occurred. Supplemental feeding of livestock remained heavy. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), Feb 24, 2022 Conditions were still extremely dry in West Central Texas, despite some winter mix of precipitation. Even with the recent moisture, fire danger remained high. Moisture and warm weather were needed for grazing. Winter wheat was very poor. Stock tank levels were reaching critical levels. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), Feb 15, 2022 Dryland wheat in West Central Texas was in a terrible state due to dry conditions. Heavy livestock feeding took place due to lack of green in pastures. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), Feb 8, 2022 Conditions in West Central Texas remained very dry. The little wheat had emerged began to die out due to wind, drought and cold temperatures. Rangeland and pastures were in poor to fair condition. Most livestock producers began to feed relatively heavily. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), Feb 1, 2022 West Central Texas is extremely dry. Severe drought conditions continued, and a few small fires were reported, but damage was minimal. Winter wheat was in very poor shape. Small grains were dying due to lack of soil moisture. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), Jan 25, 2022

Open burning was prohibited in Plymouth County on March 1 by state officials. The ban will remain until conditions improve and open burning does not pose such a danger. KTIV-TV NBC 4 (Sioux City, Iowa), March 1, 2022

The Barton County Commission reimposed a burn ban on Feb. 23 due to dry, windy conditions in the county after numerous rural grass fires in the three weeks since the previous burn ban ended. Great Bend Tribune (Kan.), Feb 23, 2022

Atchison County commissioners ordered a burn ban for the county due to extreme fire danger stemming from dry conditions. The ban will remain in effect until sufficient rain falls. News Channel Nebraska (Norfolk, Neb.), March 1, 2022

A burn ban that began Feb. 8 remains in effect in Pottawattamie County. Firefighters responded to six fires on Feb. 28 and want to remind the public of the fire danger. KMTV Action 3 News (Omaha, Neb.), March 1, 2022 The Pottawattamie County Emergency Management Agency announced a burn ban Feb. 8. All open and controlled burning was prohibited within city limits in the county. WOWT-TV NBC 6 Omaha (Neb.), Feb 8, 2022