Drought

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

The Cape Cod region remained in “significant” drought status while the rest of Massachusetts was in normal conditions after recent rainfall. The Islands region was in mild drought status. More rain was needed to replenish groundwater systems in parts of the state. WFXT (Boston, Mass.), June 10, 2025

Starting mid-March, releases from Gavins Point Dam were adjusted to provide flow support for Missouri River navigation. Navigation flow support for the Missouri River was at 4,000 cubic feet per second below full-service for the first half of the 2025 season, which began April 1 at the mouth of the river near St. Louis, Missouri. The service level was based on the total volume of water stored within the System on March 15, in accordance with the guidelines in the Master Manual. US Army Corps of Engineers Northwestern Division, April 9, 2025

Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek declared the first drought emergencies of the year for Baker County in the northeast and Lincoln County on the coast on July 10 amid low precipitation, high temperatures, low streamflow, and low soil moisture. Oregon Capital Chronicle (Salem, Oregon), July 11, 2025.

The City of Dumas, Texas, implemented Stage 3 Severe Water Shortage Conditions on July 9. Outdoor irrigation was limited to two days a week, 30 minutes before sunset and 30 minutes after sunrise. Hose-end sprinklers without timers were not allowed. Amarillo Globe-News (Texas) July 10, 2025.

On July 2, a drought emergency was declared in Lincoln County, Oregon, due to low stream flows and dry conditions. Voluntary water conservation was urged, including cutting down on outdoor use, checking for leaks, and replacing inefficient appliances. Lincoln County News Flash (Oregon), July 8, 2025.

Ground beef prices have risen 45% over the last 10 years, compared with roughly 30% for general inflation. The high prices are largely due to years of drought causing ranchers to sell off their cattle, with the national herd now at 27.8 million - the smallest it's been since the 1960's, despite population growth in the US. Severe drought in the western US from 2021-2024 led to substantial sell-offs and herds have not yet recovered, so demand currently outpaces supply. Grain prices, interest rates, and tariffs have also driven up the price. CBS News (New York) July 8, 2025.

Orchards in Washington's Yakima Valley have been showing the effects of three years of drought. One grower removed 30 acres of fruit trees to reduce the financial strain of watering. Apple Valley News Now (WA), July 7, 2025.

The cotton crop near Lenorah in Martin County was weeks behind for lack of rain. Texas Farm Bureau (Waco), July 2, 2025

Fire restrictions in the Northeast Oregon District took effect on Wednesday, July 2. The Northeast Oregon District includes Union, Baker, Wallowa, and Umatilla counties along with small portions of Malheur, Morrow, and Grant counties. The aim of the fire restrictions was to lower the threat of human-caused fires. Baker City Herald (Ore.), July 1, 2025

Nantucket’s annual Fourth of July water fight between the Nantucket Fire Department and the Boynton Lane Reserves will not be held this year due to continuing drought on the island. The annual tradition always involves the public as they get in on the water fight too. Nantucket Current (Mass.), June 30, 2025

The voluntary water restrictions that were issued in May for parts of the Baltimore area have ended, according to the Baltimore City Department of Public Works. The restrictions took effect as Liberty Reservoir, one of the area’s main drinking water sources, was at an historic low. WBAL TV 11 (Baltimore, Md.), June 30, 2025 The Baltimore City Department of Public Works issued voluntary water restrictions for the city and parts of the surrounding counties of Carroll, Baltimore, Harford, and Howard. The public was asked to curb their water use and non-essential water use as the level of Liberty Reservoir, one of the primary water sources, was at its lowest in almost 20 years. WBAL TV 11 (Baltimore, Md.), May 8, 2025

Bridgewater officials issued a full water ban on outdoor usage. The mandatory restrictions prohibit lawn watering and pool filling. Rainfall was below average in June, and drought over the past year has left groundwater and well levels low. CBS Boston (Boston, Mass.), June 27, 2025

A Stage 1 Fire Restriction Order was issued for all state lands and all unincorporated private lands within the state of Utah amid record dry vegetation and extreme fire danger. Open fires were not allowed except within established facilities in improved campgrounds or day-use areas on public lands or in permanently constructed fire pits at permanent private dwellings served by pressurized running water. ABC4 (Salt Lake City, Utah), June 27, 2025

The Santa Fe County fire marshal issued an order suspending burning permits in unincorporated areas until further notice as fires continued to burn in the southern part of the state. Santa Fe New Mexican, June 26, 2025

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox has declared Sunday, June 29, a statewide Day of Prayer and Fasting for Rain as extreme drought conditions worsened and wildfire risks continued to rise. The state 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

Stage 1 fire restrictions have been implemented for Garfield County and land managed by the White River National Forest and Bureau of Land Management Upper Colorado River District. Restrictions for Garfield County took effect at midnight Thursday, June 26, according to a news release from the Garfield County Sheriff’s Office. Stage one restrictions for the White River National Forest and Upper Colorado River District began Friday, June 27. Glenwood Springs Post Independent (Colo.), June 25, 2025

Garfield County Commissioners passed an ordinance prohibiting the use, sale or possession of fireworks in unincorporated parts of the county due to “extreme fire danger.” According to Garfield County, sagebrush fuel moisture is at a record low, and shrubs could burn aggressively. KKCO-TV NBC 11 (Grand Junction, Colo.), June 24, 2025