Some poor harvests in North Texas

3 years 9 months ago
Conditions continued to decline due to high temperatures and lack of rainfall. Some reports of poor harvests. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), Sept 8, 2021

Rangeland, pastures were browning in Texas' Coastal Bend

3 years 9 months ago
Rangeland and pasture conditions were good in most areas, but drier, hotter weather caused some browning, especially on lighter soils. Areas needed more rain to finish the hay season. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), Sept 8, 2021

Forage grasses drying down in Central Texas

3 years 9 months ago
Forage grasses were drying down quickly and going dormant as soil moisture declined. A decent rain was required before fall planting can begin, but field preparation was occurring. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), Sept 8, 2021

Dry wells in several counties in Washington state

3 years 9 months ago
Half a dozen wells in Eatonville went dry on Aug. 4. Water utilities reliant on wells in Clallam, Benton, Whatcom and Pierce counties each have reported failing wells. The Seattle Times (Wash.), Sept 6, 2021

More heifers sold as feeder cattle in U.S.

3 years 9 months ago
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

Corn being cut for silage in Tripp County, South Dakota

3 years 9 months ago
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

Little pasture grass, high hay prices led to cattle sales in Weston, Goshen counties in Wyoming

3 years 9 months ago
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

California's Lake Shasta at its second lowest, exposing historical relics

3 years 9 months ago
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

Water utility in Marin, California may cut water for endangered fish

3 years 9 months ago
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

California's Marin Municipal Water District approved $2.2 million in contracts on a proposed emergency pipeline

3 years 9 months ago
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

Boats removed early from Blue Mesa Reservoir in Colorado

3 years 9 months ago
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

Livestock, wildlife getting supplemental feed, rain needed in South Texas

3 years 9 months ago
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 turned off on parts of Mt. Diablo in California

3 years 9 months ago
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

Low inflows at Garrison Dam in North Dakota ending boating season early

3 years 9 months ago
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
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5 years 9 months ago
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