Drought

Less water is being released from the Post Falls Dam, due to lower than normal storage in Lake Coeur d’Alene, leaving less water to send down the Spokane River to Spokane. The amount of water released from the dam was lowered from 600 cubic feet per second to 500 cfs. Spokane Public Radio (Wash.), Aug 2, 2021

The low level of Lake Powell made it more challenging for kayakers to reach the water at some boat ramps, and houseboats had to be removed from the lake a while ago. The extended boat ramp at Wahweap Bay will only be useable for another week or two. But then what? An old ramp on Wahweap Bay will be built out to support lake access for houseboats and smaller boats and hopefully can be constructed by Labor Day weekend. Lake Powell dropped to a new low of 3,553 feet last week. Associated Press News (New York), Aug 6, 2021

A corn maze east of Bismarck will not open this fall because drought killed the corn, which was subsequently turned into cattle feed. Your News Leader (Bismarck, N.D.), Aug 3, 2021

As drought worsened in Minnesota, the state Department of Natural Resources kept the state in a “warning” phase. The Minnesota Drought Task Force met on Aug. 5. Residents responded well to the call for water conservation. In addition, some prescribed burns were canceled, some streams were too low to monitor water quality, and more "out of water" and well interference complaints were reported to the DNR. The state Department of Agriculture launched a drought resources webpage to help Minnesota farmers. The level of the Mississippi River at Anoka fell low enough to push water users who rely on the river into a “restrictive” phase if the river remains at or below 1,500 cubic feet per second for five consecutive days. Star Tribune (Minneapolis, Minn.), Aug 5, 2021

With rain lacking for more than two years in Santa Clara County, creeks and fish were suffering as a result. The Los Gatos Creek was so low that fish have died because the Santa Clara Valley Water District does not have enough water to release to support the fish. The Mercury News (San Jose, Calif.), Aug 2, 2021

Drought wiped out berries and some of the other natural foods that bears eat in Superior National Forest. Forest officials were mandating proper food storage for campers, effective immediately. Bears have been observed at campsites, digging in dumpsters at campgrounds or other facilities, and stealing backpacks and coolers. Saint Paul Pioneer Press (Minn.), July 31, 2021

Livestock producers in Montana were strongly urged to assess weed feed and grazing for nitrate toxicity during drought. Some weeds accumulate extremely high levels of nitrate during drought conditions, but can be easily tested using test strips from extension county offices. Sidney Herald-Leader (Mont.), July 30, 2021

A northeast Iowa cattle feedlot owner opted to buy only six or seven loads of cattle at auction rather than 14 loads as he usually does. Drought and concerns about corn supplies have him pausing and being more cautious. WCMY-AM (Ottowa, Ill.), Aug 3, 2021

The last time eastern Washington was as dry as this was 1977, according to older farmers. Winter wheat yields are about 55 bushels per acre, but could be lower, according to the CEO of the Washington Grain Commission. Average winter wheat yields last year were about 76 bushels per acre. A wheat breeder at Washington State University said yields could be down 10% to 40% of average, depending on the dryness of the area. The Centralia Chronicle (Wash.), Aug 2, 2021

The tide slowly pushes salt water further into the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, nearer to pumps that send water to interior Delta cities and towns. If salt water were to reach the pumps, they would be shut down. Capital Public Radio (Sacramento, Calif.), July 30, 2021 Construction crews were finishing the $10 million rock barrier through a part of the Delta in Contra Costa County to protect the water supply from salt water. The salty water was moving deeper into the Delta toward state and federal pumps that carry water south to 27 million residents from San Jose to Los Angeles and to millions of acres of farmland in the Central Valley and elsewhere. The barrier will remain in place until the latter part of November when the rainy season brings water to push the salty water out of the Delta. East Bay Times (San Jose, Calif.), June 22, 2021 A giant rock wall will be constructed across a river in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta to protect a vital freshwater estuary from saltwater as rivers become too low to push the brackish waters from the bay. The $30 million barrier will be built in the same place as it was in 2015 on the West False River in eastern Contra Costa County to keep saltwater away from pumping stations. Hopefully construction can begin by June 1 and be complete by July 1. The barrier will be removed before Nov. 30 as fall rains increase river flows. San Francisco Chronicle (Calif.), May 19, 2021

Drought affected the spring wheat crop in the northern plains of the U.S. northward into Canada, driving prices higher as reserves dwindled. Spring wheat is high in protein and is sought after by bakers. The spring wheat harvest is expected to be down 41%, compared to last year, for the lowest production in 33 years, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Wheat conditions have not been rated so poorly since drought in 1988. In Montana, 85% of the spring wheat crop was in very poor to poor condition. Growers were buying out of contracts made earlier in the year with elevators because they were not able to produce the wheat. Reuters (New York), Aug, 5, 2021 The spring wheat crop in the northern U.S. Plains appears to be the smallest in 33 years as intense drought hurt the crop, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture on July 12. Reuters (New York), July 12, 2021

An Aitkin apple orchard’s website listed drought as one of the three factors that reduced the apple crop this year. KDHLRadio(Faribault, Minn.), Aug 2, 2021

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced $15 million in drought relief for Klamath Basin growers who agree to reduce their irrigation demand so the water can be used for other purposes. The Bureau of Reclamation also has a $15 million program for the basin, but the Klamath Water Users Association says more financial assistance is still needed. KDRV-TV ABC 12 (Medford, Ore.), Aug 2, 2021

Drought’s harsh impacts from this summer will be felt in Montana beyond this year as ranchers sell cattle, which affects the state and local economy. KHQ-TV NBC 6 (Spokane, Wash.), Aug 4, 2021

Stock dams in South Dakota were becoming saltier as drought dried them out. Salt from the soil washes into ponds with rain. In 2019, none of the state’s stock dams had salinity levels over 4,000 microsiemens per centimeter. This year, 6% of the dams had readings over 15,000 microsiemens per centimeter, which is a lethal level. Since the state is gripped by drought, there has not been enough rain to dilute the water and make it safe again. Some ranchers were trucking in water for their livestock. South Dakota Public Broadcasting (Vermillion), Aug 5, 2021

A central Minnesota Christmas tree grower lost about 25% of his newly planted seedlings this year, despite watering trees about 50% more. KSTP-TV ABC 5 Minneapolis/St. Paul (Minn.), Aug 2, 2021

With no pasture and water supplies running dry, some Sonoma County animal owners were making the heartrending decision to give up their animals because they no longer have water. Resources do exist to help animal owners provide water if they run out so animals can stay with their owners. KPIX-TV CBS 5 San Francisco (Calif.), Aug 4, 2021

A Burleigh County farmer whose corn was too short for the chopper to reach, used his draper header, a header typically used for small grains, to cut the corn for use as cattle feed. Most of the corn did not tassel and made few ears. Irrigated durum wheat produced 35 bushels per acre, while the dryland made five bpa. Normal yield would be 90 to 100 bpa. Barley and soybeans do not look healthy. Your News Leader (Bismarck, N.D.), Aug 2, 2021

California state regulators chose to end farmers’ water diversions from the Sacramento and San Joaquin river basins to protect the river waters for drinking and endangered fish. Farmers were already getting little to no water from state and federal projects as snowpack was low and runoff was less than expected. The emergency curtailment will take effect in about two weeks. Such a broad action as this was not done during the previous drought. The Fresno Bee (Calif.), Aug 3, 2021

Grasshoppers in Bowman County in southwestern North Dakota were ravaging crops and completely devoured a field of barley to the ground. Hay production was down, yielding just 53 bales from a field that usually produces 1,500 to 3,000 bales. A sheep herd of 150 animals was sold down to just 38 for lack of feed. The situation was very similar to the west in Wibaux, Montana, concerning the barley and grasshoppers. The grasshoppers are moving eastward, and feeding activity usually peaks in August. Your News Leader (Bismarck, N.D.), July 29, 2021