Drought

Reservoirs in Santa Clara County were at a slim 12.5% of capacity, with the Anderson Reservoir at 3% of capacity. While the Santa Clara Valley Water’s Board of Directors declared a water shortage emergency in June and mandated 15% water conservation, water use has not fallen that much. Santa Clara Valley Water serves 2 million people in the county. CBS San Francisco (Calif.), Aug 25, 2021 Mandatory water restrictions were issued for Santa Clara County, due to the low water supply, as a water shortage emergency was declared by the Santa Clara Valley Water District board. Nearly two million people will have to curb their water use by 15%, compared to water use in 2019. The water district also encouraged the county to make its own local emergency declaration as conservation was needed to protect local water supplies. CNN US (Atlanta, Ga.), June 10, 2021

The hot, droughty summer in Montana reduced the survival of pronghorn fawns in some parts of the state. In Region 7 in southeast Montana, the fawn survival rate was down 39%, according to a Fish, Wildlife & Parks biologist based in Broadus. In Region 5, in south central Montana, the fawn-to-doe ration averaged 43 fawns per 100 does, which is low compared to a long-term average, dating to 1983, of 60 fawns per 100 does. In Region 6 where drought is more intense, the count in some survey areas was 20 to 30 fawns per 100 does. Fawn numbers were better in areas that received more moisture, like Hunting Districts 650 and 670, ranging from 60 to 70 fawns per 100 does. Poor forage conditions were thought to be responsible for the low fawn survival this year. Animals were also staying within two to three miles of water, and were not present in areas without water. Billings Gazette (Mont.), Aug 22, 2021

Thousands of juvenile salmon were moved from the Warm Springs Fish Hatchery in Geyserville to better waters at a conservation facility at a high school in Petaluma. Drought and the warm waters of Lake Sonoma were not ideal for the fish. California Department of Fish and Wildlife (Sacramento, Calif.), Aug 20, 2021

The low level of Lake Mead, which has hovered around 1,068 feet above sea level for the past month, requires that Las Vegas Boat Harbor move 80 feet further into the lake. Moving the harbor also means relocating gas, sewer and electric lines. KSNV-TV NBC (Las Vegas, Nev.), Aug 25, 2021

The lack of rain has left produce, such as apples, smaller at farmers’ markets in the Twin Cities. Farmers work to irrigate their crops, but it’s demanding to monitor irrigation systems around the clock. FOX 9 (Minneapolis, Minn.), Aug 22, 2021

The Department of Energy approved a request from the California Independent System Operator for additional power generation, which “may be necessary for the CAISO to meet demand in the face of extremely challenging conditions including extreme heat waves, multiple fires, high winds, and various grid issues.” CAISO’s chief operating officer noted that drought was greatly affecting the availability of hydroelectric power. For September, CAISO was expecting “a significant supply deficiency to meet planning reserve requirements during evening hours,” officials stated. The additional gas-fired capacity is essential to CAISO maintaining reliability and meeting its load obligations. The emergency order approved by DOE will remain in effect until Nov. 9. Natural Gas Intelligence (Washington, D.C.), Sept 13, 2021 California is getting five 30-MW gas-fired emergency generators to temporarily provide additional electricity as heat, wildfires and drought strain the electric grid this summer. Gov. Gavin Newsom declared an energy state of emergency previously. The Golden State has dealt with electric supply shortages of up to 3.5 GW during various peak demand times this summer. Just two years ago, hydropower made up 19% of California’s net electricity generation. Power Engineering Magazine (Tulsa, Okla.), Aug 23, 2021

The Caldor Fire burned nearly 144,000 acres, or 225 square miles, in California near the Nevada border southwest of Lake Tahoe and was just 12% contained. Associated Press News (New York), Aug 27, 2021 The Caldor Fire in El Dorado County consumed more than 73,000 acres and continued to defy containment. The blaze began on Aug. 14 and eventually destroyed the community of Grizzly Flats. “With historic drought conditions there is heavy dead and down fuels through the fire area,” according to Cal Fire and Forest Service officials. The Modesto Bee (Calif.), Aug 20, 2021

Barley production in Idaho is forecast to be down 36%, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service, compared to 2020. Idaho is the top barley producing state in the nation and produced 55 million bushels of barley for 33% of the country’s crop. The USDA predicts barley production will be down 54% in Montana and 37% in North Dakota from last year. MagicValley (Twin Falls, Idaho), Aug 21, 2021

Grass seed farmers had much lower crop yields after an unusually hot and dry spring and summer. Tall fescue, annual and perennial ryegrass and even turf grasses were severely affected by the adverse conditions. The seeds are lighter and smaller than they would normally be. Albany Democrat-Herald (Ore.), Aug 23, 2021

On top of drought, Montana farmers had to contend with swarms of Mormon crickets, as did Nevada and eastern Oregon. Drought promotes Mormon cricket outbreaks, which can last from 5 to 21 years, and cause considerable economic losses to rangeland, cropland and home gardens. The Glasgow Courier (Mont.), Aug 25, 2021

The yield of dryland dark northern spring wheat in Wallowa County was about 6 bushels per acre, compared to a normal yield of 60 to 70 bushels. The irrigated wheat was better at 120 bpa, when it ought to be closer to 130 bpa. Drought left some of the crops unworthy of harvest, like the peas and the timothy grass. A neighbor was not optimistic about harvesting his barley, knowing it was a very poor crop. Wallowa (Enterprise, Ore.), Aug 25, 2021

Drought and grasshoppers halved the Montana grain harvest, compared to 2020. The yield will be the worst since 1988, according to the Montana Wheat and Barley Committee executive vice president. Earlier in August, the USDA rated Montana’s spring wheat as 67% poor to very poor, while half of the winter wheat crop was poor to very poor. In some of the best wheat growing areas, the grasshoppers got to the wheat before farmers harvested. Drought kept all of the crops short with the lentils not being harvestable for the lack of height. Montana Standard (Butte), Aug 26, 2021

The dry, warm summer helped grapes at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum Horticultural Research Center mature earlier than normal. Minnesota Public Radio (St. Paul), Aug 26, 2021

Producers in west central Texas continued to feed livestock and wildlife. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), Aug 24, 2021

The Panhandle was hot and dry, leaving soil moisture short to adequate. Livestock continued to receive a small amount of supplemental feeding. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), Aug 24, 2021

Gov. Gain Newsom issued three proclamations of a state of emergency concerning electricity since June, waiving certain permitting requirements to allow the use of backup power generation and allowing additional capacity to ease electric demand on the grid. Newsom also gave the California Energy Commission permission to hasten amendments to existing power plant licenses and issue new licenses to emergency and temporary generators. Natural Gas Intelligence (Washington, D.C.), Sept 13, 2021

While the dry beans and corn in Lincoln County looked pretty good, the sugar beets, alfalfa and hay were in need of rain. KNOP (North Platte, Neb.), Aug 25, 2021

Honey production on a Prescott, Wisconsin farm was 50 pounds per hive, down from the average of 85 pounds per hive, for about 59% of normal. Drought means fewer flowers producing nectar for bees to make honey. Some honey farms noted that bee populations were also down, due to less food for the bees. CBS Minnesota (Minneapolis), Aug 22, 2021

Many livestock producers in northern Minnesota were reluctantly opting to sell animals, due to dry pastures, meager hay crops and the climbing costs of other feeds. Auctions were busier than usual, moving the cattle while prices remained good. Pastures yielded only a small amount of the usual forage this year, and the hay crop was about one-third of normal, so hay for sale is hard to find. Transportation costs can also make the hay very expensive. The Timberjay (Tower, Minn.), Aug 25, 2021

Nampa plans to shut off its irrigation on Sept. 7 on the same day that Pioneer Irrigation District will end operations. The Nampa and Meridian Irrigation District and the Boise-Kuna Irrigation District are scheduled to end their irrigation seasons Sept. 15. The end to the irrigation season is due to the lack of snow last winter, severe drought this summer and below normal reservoirs. Residents have been asked to conserve irrigation water to give farmers more time to irrigate. Residents are not to use potable water for irrigation because the city does not have enough potable water for drinking and irrigation. Idaho Statesman (Nampa), Aug 13, 2021