Drought

Gov. Spencer Cox urged Utahns to “please, please, please be vigilant” while recreating on public lands across the state as drought conditions worsened amid an already busy wildfire season. This year was shaping up to be the state’s most active wildfire season in five years as 574 wildfires blackened more than 83,000 acres through the morning of Thursday, July 17. KSL.com (Salt Lake City, Utah), July 17, 2025

The Spokane River has dropped below 1,000 cubic feet per second, triggering public notification of Level 2 suggested watering rules outlined in a water conservation ordinance. Under Level 2 watering rules, outdoor watering was not permitted between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. Outdoor watering was only allowed two days per week for up to two hours per day. Water may not be used to clean pavement, decks or patios. MySpokane (Wash.), July 17, 2025

Wallowa County commissioners officially declared a drought emergency on July 16. Local ranchers anticipated needing to begin feeding hay to livestock in September, nearly four months earlier than last year. Elkhorn Media Group (Pendleton, Ore.), July 17, 2025

Although Union County had a strong snowpack mid-winter, the spring growing season was unusually dry. Over the past 60 days, nearly all parts of Union County received less than half of their normal precipitation. Consequently, crop yields were already reduced, and irrigation stream flows are declining rapidly. Elkhorn Media Group (Pendleton, Ore.), July 17, 2025

This year was shaping up to be Utah’s most active wildfire season in five years as 574 wildfires blackened more than 83,000 acres through the morning of Thursday, July 17. KSL.com (Salt Lake City, Utah), July 17, 2025 Utah has had more than 380 wildfires that have burned over 43,000 acres so far this year. The fires significantly stressed farms, ranches, rangelands and wildlife habitat across Utah. Gephardt Daily (South Jordan, Utah), June 27, 2025

Russell was in a stage II water warning because one of its two water sources, Big Creek, was no longer flowing over the low head dam downstream from the city’s water intake system. KSN.com (Wichita, Kan.), July 16, 2025

Clallam Bay/Seiku and Island View water systems were under stage 3 and stage 4 drought alerts. Water may need to be trucked in for the system’s water customers in a matter of days. Peninsula Daily News (Port Angeles, Wash.), July 16, 2025

Some rivers in Yellowstone National Park closed to fishing on July 12 due to warm water temperatures and low river flows. This includes the Madison River, Firehole River, Gibbon River downstream of Norris Campground and all tributaries associated with those rivers. National Park Service, July 11, 2025

Conditions were warm and humid, with periodic rain showers in some parts of South Texas, but drought conditions persisted in others, and there was no water available in the local irrigation canals. Topsoil and subsoil moisture was adequate due to the scattered showers, but moisture was drying up due to the heat. The rains halted the grain sorghum harvest. Corn was in the denting stage, and cotton was setting bolls. Verde bugs on cotton were an emerging issue. Peanut planting was completed, with most fields in the pegging stage. Vegetable growers were harvesting. Strawberry fields were being prepared. Turfgrass harvest was underway. The watermelon harvest ended. Midge and sorghum aphid issues occurred on flowering sorghum. Hay fields and pastures were in excellent condition. Some grass was starting to dry out and turn yellow. Cattle supplementation decreased due to the improved range and pasture conditions. Beef cattle prices remained strong, and feed prices were still high. Livestock and wildlife were in good condition. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), July 1, 2025

Weather conditions in Southwest Texas were hot and dry, with temperatures in the 90s and strong, gusty winds. Row crops improved some with earlier rain but were drying out quickly and showing signs of stress. Corn and sorghum harvests should begin soon. Feed corn was harvested, and the residue was baled for straw. Trees were beginning to suffer from drought stress. Pecans were developing well. Pasture and range conditions improved following recent rains. Hay harvest was in full swing, and hay grazer also neared the cutting stage. Livestock markets were steady to higher. Livestock grazed on pastures with some supplemental forage. Deer fawns looked healthy. Armyworms and high numbers of grasshoppers were reported. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), July 1, 2025

Nearly a dozen rivers in western Montana and some rivers in Yellowstone National Park were under restrictions or closures on July 9 after the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks declared that parts of Upper Rock Creek, the Clark Fork River, the Bitterroot River and all of Silver Bow Creek were closed to fishing after 2 p.m. to protect fish during the hottest hours of the day. The day before, hoot owl restrictions were announced for stretches of the Ruby, Big Hole, Beaverhead and Smith rivers and for the entirety of the Jefferson River. The Sun River and the Madison River, possibly Montana’s most popular angling destination, were placed under hoot owl closures particularly early this year on July 2 for the Sun River and June 19 for the Madison River above Hebgen Lake. Montana Free Press (Helena, Mont.), July 14, 2025 More hoot owl fishing restrictions are being implemented in western Montana as water temperatures rise. Sections of the Ruby, Jefferson, Big Hole, Beaverhead, and Smith Rivers will be off limits for afternoon fishing. The state and Butte-Silver Bow County will begin releasing an additional 32 cubic feet/sec from Silver Lake into Warm Springs Creek, a tributary of the Clark Fork River, for the next 47 days to reduce pressure on fisheries, wildlife, farms, ranches, and other residents amid a multi-year drought. NewsTalk KGVO (Montana) July 9, 2025

Counties across Central Texas experienced warm and dry conditions over the past week, characterized by dramatically warming temperatures and declining soil moisture levels. Corn crops performed well, with silage harvests beginning and better-than-average yield expectations. Cotton needed additional rainfall. Temperatures approaching the mid-90s and forecasts reaching 100 degrees raised concerns about continued drought stress and declining pasture conditions. Hay production was in full swing, with exceptional yields and good quality, as producers capitalized on previous rainfall. Many producers were preparing for second hay cuttings. Livestock remained in good condition. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), July 1, 2025

Hot and dry conditions prevailed in most West Central Texas counties, and some burn bans were enacted. Menard County was an exception, receiving around 8 inches of rain over the past 20 days. High winds significantly impacted moisture conditions. Most wheat harvest was finished. Planted cotton was progressing but showed signs of heat and moisture stress. Corn was maturing. Early planted grain sorghum was coloring and the later-planted fields struggled in the heat. Pecan progress continued. Weeds were abundant and producers were spraying cropland. The majority of the first hay cuttings were baled, with some producers starting a second cutting. Some hay grazer was cut. Pasture forages were drying out quickly but still looked good. Cattle continued to look good. Stock tank levels were a mixed bag with some near full and others that never caught any runoff were low. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), July 1, 2025

Hot and dry conditions were observed across Far West Texas. Temperatures were above average, especially at night, which hurt overnight crop recovery. High winds persisted, further drying out cropland and rangeland despite some shower activity moving through areas. Crop adjusters were traveling throughout the region to assess noted negative impacts on cotton, corn and sorghum. Pecans and hay crops were doing well for the time being. Melons were being harvested just ahead of schedule. Soil moisture was depleted, and pastures continued to dry out, requiring more hay and supplementation for livestock. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), July 1, 2025

Drought caused the early termination of dryland fields in Texas. Dryland fields in the Winter Garden area struggled. Wheat yields in the Blacklands area were lower due to drought during the winter and early spring. Yields were very low in Central Texas. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), July 1, 2025

The Turner Gulch Fire was the largest fire burning in Colorado after quadrupling in size overnight, exploding to cover 8,140 acres on Tuesday, July 15. Two wildfires burning on either side of the Unaweep Canyon in Mesa County led to the closure of Colorado Highway 141 at Mile Post 124, south of Grand Junction. The Mesa County Sheriff’s Office ordered evacuations and issued pre-evacuation orders in the area. Drought conditions, dry fuels and high winds were contributing to extreme fire behavior. Summit Daily (Colo.), July 15, 2025

Some farmers in West Michigan have noticed large cracks in the soil and stressed crops. WZZM-TV Grand Rapids 13 (Mich.), July 14, 2025

The Cape Cod Region was downgraded to a Level 1-Mild Drought after being at Level 2-Significant Drought since January. In the Islands Region, Dukes County was downgraded to Level 0-Normal Conditions, while Nantucket County remained at Level 1-Mild Drought. The Southeast, Connecticut River Valley, Western, Central, and Northeast Regions were in Level 0-Normal Conditions. Mass.gov (Boston, Mass.), July 11, 2025

The six mainstem power plants generated 810 million kWh of electricity on the Missouri River in June. Normal energy generation for June is 842 million kWh. The power plants were expected to generate 8.1 billion kWh this year, compared to the long-term average of 9.4 billion kWh. June runoff in the Missouri River Basin above Sioux City, Iowa was 3.3 million acre-feet, which is 60% of average. The revised forecast for the Missouri River Basin above Sioux City, Iowa, for the 2025 calendar year was 19.1 MAF, 74% of average, and slightly lower than May’s forecast. The runoff forecast is based on current soil moisture conditions, mountain snowpack, and long-term precipitation and temperature outlooks. US Army Corps of Engineers, July 9, 2025

Gavins Point Dam releases were set to provide navigation flow support at 4,500 cfs below full service at the four target locations of Sioux City, Omaha, Nebraska City, and Kansas City. The flow support season length will be a full 8-month season, ending Dec. 1 at the mouth of the Missouri River. US Army Corps of Engineers, July 9, 2025