Drought

Lubbock County commissioners approved a 30-day burn ban for the southeast part of the county beginning Jan. 24. KCBD-TV NBC 11 Lubbock (Texas), Jan 24, 2022

Wheat producers in the Texas High Plains are facing intense drought and must decide if dryland wheat is worth bringing to harvest. Many later-planted fields across the region have not emerged, and dryland field trial wheat plots planted Nov. 5 have only produced about a 2% stand so far. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), Jan 25, 2022

Small fires have occurred in Central Texas, and burn bans were in effect. Heavy frost damaged winter oats, winter wheat. The tops of the oats browned and there was no available soil moisture for recovery. Grazing quality and quantity was impacted and will be slower to recover. Stock tank levels were down significantly through the fall and winter. Supplemental feeding was necessary for all livestock. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), Jan 25, 2022

The Dangling Rope Marina at Lake Powell in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area will be closed for a year as low flows forced Bureau of Reclamation officials to adjust releases from Glen Canyon Dam. Marina components were being removed from the Dangling Rope location to ensure they do not become beached and inaccessible. November 2021 was extremely dry, resulting in a loss of 1.5 million acre-feet of inflow for Lake Powell compared to the previous month’s projections. To keep the hydroelectric generating plant in the dam operating, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation adjusted monthly releases from Lake Powell to keep back 350,000 acre-feet of water each month from January to April when inflows to the reservoir are low. The water held back during the first four months of the year will be sent to Lake Mead from June through September. National Parks Traveler (Park City, Utah), Jan 24, 2022

With moderate to severe drought conditions in Creek County, county commissioners approved a 2-week burn ban as there was little rain in the forecast. Firefighters responded to at least four fires over the weekend. Sapulpa Times (Okla.), Jan 25, 2022

Winter wheat in the Waco area was suffering from dry weather and cold, but there is still hope if rain were to fall. Rain is also needed for the corn which will be planted in 45 days. KWTX-TV 10 New Waco (Texas), Jan 22, 2022

Drought is killing some of the winter wheat in Wichita County in northern Texas. With the wheat not growing, some livestock producers were feeding hay. The subsoil moisture is low, so more than a couple of inches of rain is needed. Drought was also starting to affect area reservoirs. Wichita Falls Times Record News (Texas), Jan 24, 2022

The Barton County Commission issued a county-wide ban on outdoor burning on Dec. 15, and it remained in effect as there has not been enough moisture to lift the ban. Fires have occurred despite snow on the ground. Great Bend Post (Kan.), Jan 25, 2022

The warm, dry weather in Oklahoma prevented the growth of fall and winter wheat, reducing income potential on dual-purpose wheat, according to Oklahoma Mesonet’s agricultural coordinator. The weight gain for cattle has been really light, limiting the profit from cattle being on wheat. Some producers even sold cattle because they were waiting for rain before letting cattle graze the crop. Rainfall could still salvage the wheat crop. KOSU-FM Oklahoma Public Radio (Stillwater, Okla.), Jan 20, 2022

Conchas Lake did not rise in December 2021, offering little hope that the Arch Hurley Conservancy District board of directors would allocate water to farmers come spring just like 2021 when the district decided not to allocate water during growing season due to persistent drought. Quay County Sun (Tucumcari, N.M.), Jan 19, 2022 The Arch Hurley Conservancy District will not be allocating any irrigation water to area farmers for the first time since 2017 as the board of directors voted against an allocation. Conchas Lake was at 4,159 feet, but cannot discharge water by gravity when the lake is below 4,162 feet, although water can be pumped from the lake to the 4,155 feet level. The board will reassess the possibility of water discharges monthly or could schedule a special meeting to allocate water if a significant rain event were to occur. Quay County Sun (Tucumcari, N.M.), April 21, 2021

Drought in 2021 reduced the size of avocadoes and decimated Q4 sales from about 487,000 pounds in Q4 2020 to just 3,000 pounds in Q4 2021. Supply Chain Dive (Washington, D.C.), Jan 20, 2022

The two ski resorts in South Dakota opened on a limited basis and needed more snow. Terry Peak Ski Area in Lead and Great Bear Ski Valley in Sioux Falls were opening later than usual and with fewer runs as December temperatures were very warm and snow was scarce. Terry Peak opened Dec. 15 and intended to open more of its 29 runs and five lifts by Dec. 29. Great Bear planned to have 40% of its runs ready when it opens on Dec. 30. Its tubing area did not yet have an opening date. South Dakota Public Broadcasting (Vermillion, S.D.), Dec 28, 2021

Carter County Commissioners implemented a burn ban on Dec. 20 and extended it through Jan. 17. The ban made it unlawful for a person "to set fire to any forest, grass, range crop or other wild lands or to build a campfire, bonfire, burn or ignite fireworks, or to burn trash or other materials that may cause a forest, grass, range crop or other wild lands fire." Ardmoreite.com (Okla.), Jan 7, 2022

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott issued a disaster declaration due to exceptional drought posing a threat of imminent disaster in Andrews, Baylor, Borden, Brewster, Cameron, Carson, Castro, Childress, Collingsworth, Cottle, Culberson, Dallam, Dawson, Deaf Smith, Dimmit, Fisher, Foard, Gray, Hansford, Hardeman, Hartley, Haskell, Hemphill, Hidalgo, Howard, Hutchinson, Jones, Knox, Lamar, Martin, Maverick, Midland, Moore, Motley, Ochiltree, Oldham, Pecos, Potter, Presidio, Randall, Roberts, Scurry, Sherman, Stonewall, Terrell, Throckmorton, Upton, Ward, Wheeler, Wichita, Wilbarger, and Winkler counties. Office of the Governor - Greg Abbott (Texas), Jan 6, 2022

With Arizona’s water supply from the Colorado River being reduced due to the declared water shortage, residents of Scottsdale are urged to limit water use by at least 5%. City officials have also found ways for the city to conserve water. In recent years, areas of turf and non-recreational grass were converted to xeriscape. Low flow toilets were another way to conserve water. FOX 10 (Phoenix, Ariz.), Jan 11, 2022

Blue Mesa Reservoir was more than 80 feet below full pool in late 2021 after its water was released downstream for Lake Powell. The water receded into its old river channel on the eastern edges, exposing foundations from the town of Iola and Stevens Ranch. Gunnison Country Times (Colo.), Jan 12, 2022

Five of New Mexico’s eight ski resorts have partially opened as drought limits the amount of snow available, but three resorts—Ski Apache, Pajarito Mountain and Sandia Peak—have not yet opened for the season. KRQE (Albuquerque, N.M.), Jan 12, 2022

Water authorities from Arizona, Nevada and California signed the 500+ Plan on Dec. 15, voluntarily offering to reduce the share of water to be taken from the Colorado River to keep Lake Mead fuller. The plan is that the states will take 500,000 acre-feet less in 2022 and 2023, depending on water usage and conservation in the area, with the aim of averting mandatory cuts in the near future. States must also make a financial investment amounting to $40 million from Arizona, and $20 million each from Nevada, California and the Central Arizona Project, which operates a canal system that delivers Colorado River water in Arizona. The federal government would match the funding, for a total of $200 million. Associated Press News (New York), Dec 14, 2021 Phoenix is voluntarily contributing water as part of a regional “500+ Plan” to support Lake Mead and postpone more water shortages. The plan has not yet been finalized, but Arizona, Nevada and California will contribute water and funds over the next two years. Associated Press News (New York), Jan 7, 2022

Water rates for Los Angeles’ heaviest water users rose up to $3.60 per 748 gallons of water, effective Jan. 1. the Los Angeles Department Board of Water and Power Commissioners approved the rate changes in September 2021 to cover increasing water supply costs from customers who use a lot of water. Spectrum News 1 (El Segundo, Calif.), Jan 5, 2022

Precipitation helped firefighters increase the containment of the estimated 1,000-acre Lost Cove Fire to 80%. Watauga Democrat (Boone, N.C.), Jan. 5, 2022