Drought

The South Carolina Forestry Commission issued a State Forester’s Burning Ban for all counties beginning the morning of Sept. 4, prohibiting all outdoor burning in unincorporated areas. While Hurricane Dorian is expected to bring rain to the eastern part of the state, there are risk factors that increase the fire danger, including elevated drought conditions and a scarcity of firefighters, law enforcement and other emergency personnel. Aiken Standard (S.C.), Sept. 4, 2019

Chignik Lagoon on the Alaska Peninsula was dealing with a water shortage as the community’s wells went completely dry. Anchorage Daily News (Alaska), Sept. 1, 2019

Numerous oak trees in southeastern North Carolina were dying in a matter of weeks. Very young and very old oaks seem to be most affected. Extreme stressors, such as flooding from hurricanes, and recent drought were thought to be responsible. The North Carolina Forestry has received many calls from people in Pender, Brunswick, Bladen and Lenoir counties about their trees. Wilmington Morning Star (N.C.), Sept. 2, 2019

Texas cattle producers in the West, Central and South regions were starting to supplement livestock as range conditions continued to deteriorate, due to heat and insufficient rain. SFN Today (Raleigh, N.C.), Aug. 30, 2019

While insect have played a role in in the wildfires that have burned Alaska forests this summer, heat and drought have had a larger impact. Alaska Public Media News (Anchorage, Alaska), Aug. 23, 2019

As drought conditions persist and expand, Texans were urged to be particularly careful with fire. North Texas e-News (Fannin, Texas), Aug. 27, 2019

The dry conditions led the Forest Service on Aug. 29 to enact stage 1 fire restrictions in the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests in Boulder, Gilpin, Clear Creek and Park counties. KCNC-TV CBS 4 Denver (Colo.), Aug. 30, 2019

Nueces County ranchers were giving their livestock hay and supplemental feed as hot, dry weather damaged their pastures. Some ranchers opted to adjust their stocking rates, while others chose to sell cattle. KIII-TV3 South Texas (Corpus Christi, Texas), Aug. 28, 2019

Crops were struggling in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula as dry conditions continued. Dry pastures forced many producers to offer supplemental feeding to their livestock. USAgNet (Marshfield, Wis.), Aug. 27, 2019

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott included another eight counties in the disaster declaration that he originally made on Aug. 23. The additional eight counties were Briscoe, Brooks, Castro, Jim Wells, Nueces, San Patricio, Wichita and Wilbarger. The declaration was made because drought increases the fire danger and jeopardizes public health, property and the economy. The declaration also suspends all laws and rules that “in any way prevent, hinder or delay necessary action” in coping with drought. The Brownsville Herald (Texas), Aug. 30, 2019 Texas Gov. Greg Abbott issued a disaster declaration for seven counties in the south that faced severe drought and an increased wildfire risk. The seven counties were Duval, Hall, Jim Hogg, Randall, Swisher, Webb, and Zapata. Gilmer Mirror (Texas), Aug. 24, 2019

The cotton and corn crops in Shelby County were unusually short. The corn yield may be half of normal this year. WBMA (Birmingham, Ala.), Sept. 4, 2019 Drought hurt the corn and cotton in Shelby County, where one farmer estimated a loss of 40 percent for his cotton and an even worse outcome for the corn. Shelby County Reporter (Columbiana, Ala.), Aug. 29, 2019

Rangeland and livestock conditions remained poor in Far West Texas with cattle needing supplemental feed. Producers were getting ready to ship calves and were rotating pastures. Rangeland and pastures were very dry and hard. Drought also allowed an uptick in fires. Bryan-College Station Eagle (Texas), Aug. 27, 2019

Central Texas pastures remained in poor condition, due to drought. North Texas e-News (Fannin, Texas), Sept. 5, 2019 Heavily stocked pastures in Central Texas did not rebound, due to insufficient rainfall. Bryan-College Station Eagle (Texas), Aug. 27, 2019

South Texas rangeland and pastures were deteriorating rapidly as soil moisture levels remained short to very short. Pastures were turning brown, leading some producers to begin feeding hay. Some producers culled herds or shifted livestock to other pastures. Some livestock received supplemental feeding. Deer breeders offered supplemental feed, while some ranchers provided water for livestock and wildlife. Bryan-College Station Eagle (Texas), Aug. 20, 2019 South Texas rangeland and pasture conditions continued to deteriorate as the lack of rain left soil moisture levels very short to short. Livestock producers increased supplemental feeding and some hauled water. Poor grazing conditions and heat caused livestock body conditions to begin to deteriorate. Bryan-College Station Eagle (Texas), Aug. 13, 2019

Drought stress was apparent in rangelands, pastures and some croplands in West Central Texas. Hay fields were in fair condition, but were deteriorating for lack of rain. Some livestock producers were opting to give cattle supplemental hay. North Texas e-News (Fannin, Texas), Aug. 7, 2019

Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy issued a disaster declaration for the Matanuska-Susitna Borough and Kenai Peninsula Borough, due to the wildfires that have consumed roughly 83 structures and damaged public facilities, communications and utility lines. The McKinley, Deshka Landing and Swan Lake wildfires caused the evacuations of about 400 people and disrupted travel along the Sterling and Parks highways and the Alaska Railroad. Drought, exceedingly dry fuels, strong winds and low humidity have hindered firefighting efforts. KTVA-TV CBS 11 Anchorage (Alaska), Aug. 23, 2019

The village of Nanwalek was receiving emergency air shipments of bottled water from Anchorage after low snowmelt in the spring and almost historic low rainfall over the summer allowed the reservoir to run dry. Four palettes of bottled water arrived on Aug. 15 and two more palettes were en route. KTUU-TV NBC 2 Anchorage (Alaska), Aug. 23, 2019

Despite the record wet weather the U.S. has seen in the past twelve months, mentions of drought-resistant features in home listings remained high in California and Arizona. The term “xeriscape” is often used in New Mexico and Colorado, while drought mentions in Georgia frequently relate to lakefront homeowners’ dock usability amid drought. Yahoo! News (Sunnyvale, Calif.), Aug. 21, 2019

A full burn ban remained in effect for Haines, despite a little bit of rain. All open fires were prohibited, including burn barrels and waste piles. The increased fire danger, due to dry conditions, prompted the federal Division of Forestry to send additional equipment and personnel, including a special fire engine designed to fight brush fires and several helicopter-trained federal wildland firefighters. KHNS (Haines, Alaska), Aug. 23, 2019 A burn ban remained in effect for Haines as drought continued. Arkansas Democrat-Gazette & Arkansas Online (Alaska), Aug. 18, 2019

The Bandera County River Authority and Groundwater District issued a warning cautioning the public about recreational contact with the Medina and Sabinal rivers, due to poor water quality. As of Aug. 15, the river authority strongly advised that people avoid recreational contact, including swimming, in the Medina and Sabinal rivers and their tributaries because heat and low to no flows have allowed the proliferation of potentially harmful organisms in the water. Bandera Bulletin (Texas), Aug. 21, 2019