The Seven States Running Out Of Water

24/7 Wall Street ^ | 3/21/13

[EBH]

The United States is in the midst of one of the biggest droughts in recent memory. At last count, over half of the lower 48 states had abnormally dry conditions and are suffering from at least moderate drought....

...U.S. Department of Agriculture meteorologist and Drought Monitor team member, Brad Rippey, explained that when the drought began in 2012, the worst of the conditions were much farther east, in states like Indiana, Ohio, and Michigan — the corn belt states. Based on pre-drought estimates, corn used for grain lost slightly more than a quarter of its potential. By the Summer of 2012, 59% of U.S. rangeland and pastureland was rated by the USDA as being in poor or very poor condition. The growing drought decimated national hay production, causing feed shortages, which in turn drove up prices in livestock.

By the fall of 2012, drought conditions continued to expand westward to its current epicenter — states like Nebraska, Kansas, Colorado and Oklahoma. Rippey explained that most worrying is the drought’s effects on the winter wheat crop, which is one of the biggest crops grown in the U.S., and which is grown almost entirely in the states in severe drought. While the region has had some precipitation recently, “winter wheat crop will need ideal conditions heading through the next few weeks just to break even. Rippey said....

In addition to severe drought conditions, relatively large areas in the worst-off states are in “exceptional” drought, which the USDA identifies as “exceptional and widespread crop/pasture losses, shortages of water in reservoirs, streams, and wells creating water emergencies.” More than 70% of Nebraska is currently classified as being in a state of “exceptional drought,” which includes Exceptional and widespread crop/pasture losses; shortages of water in reservoirs, streams, and wells creating water emergencies....

[EBH]

Drought...then famine>>>>?

Drought as bad or worse then the 1950's....

[Bubba_Leroy]

I don’t think they are counting the droughts in the 1950s or 1930s as “recent memory.”

[EBH]

Did you bother to click through and read the article...? The last time the U.S. saw a drought close to this level of severity was in the 1980s, Rippey explained. But even compared to that drought, the current conditions may be worse. “You really need to go back to the 1950s to find a drought that lasted and occupied at least as much territory,” Rippey said.

[USFRIENDINVICTORIA]

Here’s a suggestion: stop using water to grow food for fuel. You’ll save water, money, food, and energy.

[Sequoyah101]

The farm is in Eastern Oklahoma and it is horrible. I’d hate to see worse. SE Texas is worse than people may think. Shocked to not see Texas listed.

People tried drilling in winter forage but it was like trying to scratch rock. Pasture drills went way up last fall. I suspect there will be a lot on the market soon. Ditto for farms and even more cows. Not just a forage problem but now a drinking water problem. Ponds are drying up completely in lots of places. No runoff.

I was around in the 50’s and I’d say this is worse. It just seems to drag on and on and on. I think in 57-58 the floods finally came.

[okie01]

I don’t think they are counting the droughts in the 1950s or 1930s as “recent memory.”

Probably not. But both were worse.

Clue: The Great Plains experience a dry period every 20 years-or-so -- see 1930s, 1950s, 1990s and 2010s. In the 1970s, it was a relatively mild droughts, but we were consumed by the "New Ice Age".

There is a cyclical pattern in there somewhere...

And it generally conforms to the 22-yr sunspot cycle...

[Tijeras_Slim]

It just seems to drag on and on and on.

There's a lot of that feeling to go around these days.

[EBH]

I am in North East Ohio...big lake out there ya’ know...

So feeling the water pinch is really just a matter of how much your want to pay. Folks who grow backyard plots here will be OK, but the bigger farms it is gonna hurt.

Hopefully a few more FReepers will weigh in on their conditons.

It does though make me chuckle to think the sewar district now charges us for water run-off. Well...what run-off?

[SparkyBass]

Living in San Diego for 18 years I would hear about “persistent drought conditions” over and over. I had to wonder when does it cease being a drought and finally become “normal weather conditions”? :)

Now I’m in AZ and the silliness persists. “Drought!” It’s a desert, fercryinoutloud!

[familyop]

Much of the winter wheat crop is further north of those states, and that’s only winter wheat. Besides, the drought is easing up some in Nebraska, Kansas and Oklahoma. Tourism is what the folks sucking on debt are really worried about.

Here’s a map of the drought forecast (link below). See Colorado, for example.

http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/expert_assessment/seasonal_drought.html

See fire bans, no campfires, no charcoal grills, no recreational firearms discharges, reservoirs drained, new gun control laws like those in the northeastern states, legalization of marijuana, more revenues from arrests, regulations prohibiting private property rights, environmentalism, homosexual “marriage,” animal worship, etc.

Add the bone dry landscape, more smoke in the air from forest fires (mostly touched off by lightning without rain), and sand storms. Add the trend toward much colder weather. Ever wonder if many people actually pray for more drought in some areas? If not, see some residents robbed of all that they have with the recent outlawing of so many healthy, productive activities.

[SgtHooper]

“Indiana, Ohio, and Michigan — the corn belt states.”

Are you freakin kidding me? Missing just a few of the big producers like Nebraska, Iowa, and Minnesota.

[SomeCallMeTim]

I was around in the 50’s and I’d say this is worse. It just seems to drag on and on and on. I think in 57-58 the floods finally came.

Thanks for the personal perspective. Always valuable.

[SVTCobra03]

2013 Long-Range Weather Forecast for Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

http://www.almanac.com/weather/longrange/OK/Oklahoma%20City

[SgtHooper]

Live up-ere, too. You prolly heard that the electric company is upping is prices because too many people are conserving power by way of green tech and just plain using less. Stupid ba$tard$ hafta pay their salaries and retirement bennies.

[cripplecreek]

We had the worst drought I’ve seen last year here in southern Michigan but we aren’t exactly turning into a desert.

I just read that we’re about an inch and a half below normal precip for the first 3 months of the year.

[MachIV]

And to significantly aggravate the problem, you have significant numbers of people moving to Texas from other parts of the country(and south of the border) with all the extra water needs.

[2ndDivisionVet]

Not a problem.

[Bubba_Leroy]

Did you bother to click through and read the article...?

Yes, I read the article. Did you bother to read my post?

The article began with the line, "The United States is in the midst of one of the biggest droughts in recent memory."

You then posted, Drought as bad or worse then [sic] the 1950's....

I responded by pointing out, I don’t think they are counting the droughts in the 1950s or 1930s [which they did not mention in the article] as “recent memory.” What about my response are you disputing?

Basically, the article buried the lede. The fact is that most of the U.S. has experienced a comparable drought every 20 to 30 years throughout recorded history. Before the droughts of the 1950s and 1930s, there were major droughts in the 1890s, the 1870s and the 1850s.

[Jay Redhawk]

I hope that forecast is correct because OKC will likely be in a world of hurt if it does not rain this spring. The backup water source, Canton Lake, has nearly been drained, and without rain all OKC will have left is the treatment plant discharge from Ft. Supply and Woodward to drink from. Unless of course that dries up before it can get down there.

[muir_redwoods]

I wish I know if that letter to the editor was an example of deep stupidity of just weak humor. It really suggests a basic failure of the brain.

[Bubba_Leroy]

I was around in the 50’s and I’d say this is worse. It just seems to drag on and on and on. I think in 57-58 the floods finally came.

I grew up in Central Texas in the 1950s. Here, the seven year drought in 1950s was worse. For example, the Llano River went completely dry for a couple of months in the 1950s. As bad as it got here during the last two years, the Llano River has never gone completely dry (even though there are a lot more people pulling water from it now).

[Mr. Lucky]

So, the water requirements of corn vary by what end use the corn is put to?

[Undecided 2012]

2ndDiv. I like that, can I copy and send to my brother?

[RedBallJet]

I heard a guy talking about Michigan weather making a comeback. I don’t get it.

[muawiyah]

You really do need to go the whole 80 years back to 1930 ~ these great drought cycles can be shorter, or less extensive ~ but when they parallel similar droughts in China at the same time that's ol' Mr. Sending a dry air signal!

Just looking at DROUGHT MONITOR and it shows that this year is the same old same old except the Eastern Corn Belt is back in business, and the Northeast will continue to provide both apples and potatoes.

[MCH]

Lemme guess - it’s all due to “climate change.” Moreover, the *obvious* [totally unrelated] “answer” is 1) a massive tax increase to grow government, plus 2) carbon trading so Algore and his fellow corrupt fascist scum-buddies can get even more rich than they already are.

[2ndDivisionVet]

Sure, it doesn’t belong to me, I just saw it one day somewhere. I fear there are more people like that than we know.

[Gumdrop]

Nothing that a few hurricanes or tropical storms over the Gulf of Mexico cannot turn around.

[Repeal The 17th]

The pertinent info from the article:

#7. Oklahoma
> Pct. of state in severe drought: 83.2%
> Pct. of state in extreme drought: 56.7% (4th highest)
> Pct. of state in exceptional drought: 9.7% (6th highest)

#6. Wyoming
> Pct. of state in severe drought: 83.7%
> Pct. of state in extreme drought: 54.7% (5th highest)
> Pct. of state in exceptional drought: 10.1% (5th highest)

#5. South Dakota
> Pct. of state in severe drought: 86.3%
> Pct. of state in extreme drought: 67.5% (2nd highest)
> Pct. of state in exceptional drought: 20.1% (4th highest)

#4. Colorado
> Pct. of state in severe drought: 89.0%
> Pct. of state in extreme drought: 48.1% (7th highest)
> Pct. of state in exceptional drought: 21.2% (3rd highest)

#3. New Mexico
> Pct. of state in severe drought: 89.9%
> Pct. of state in extreme drought: 49.9% (6th highest)
> Pct. of state in exceptional drought: 4.3% (8th highest)

#2. Kansas
> Pct. of state in severe drought: 96.4%
> Pct. of state in extreme drought: 64.6% (3rd highest)
> Pct. of state in exceptional drought: 21.4% (2nd highest)

#1. Nebraska
> Pct. of state in severe drought: 100%
> Pct. of state in extreme drought: 96.1% (the highest)
> Pct. of state in exceptional drought: 76.4% (the highest)

[KSCITYBOY]

LOL

[Grams A]

Nothing that a few hurricanes or tropical storms over the Gulf of Mexico cannot turn around.”

Watch your mouth. We still haven’t totally recovered from Ike and I don’t expect that Galveston ever will totally be the same. Tropical storm would be okay but no more hurricanes please.

BTW, heard my first newscast announcing that hurricane season will soon be on us. Fortunately we’ve not yet been subject to any of the profound wisdom from the Weather Channel yet. Expect one of them will do the coin toss pretty soon.

[OneWingedShark]

NM Ping.

---

Drought, lots of it... and six other states, too.

[peteyd]

I’m from NE Ohio,and you won’t believe me when I say ,I miss the place.
The snowy winters and spring and the summer storms that come through and beautiful autumns.
2011 my cousin said so much rain it was depressing.
2012 no rain.
Calif depends on the snow pack for nearly 38 million people.
Which state has the water? I’m there.

[cripplecreek]

Michigan has screwy weather. Surprisingly we rank first in water area with the total state area being some 41.2% water.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._states_and_territories_by_area

[wyokostur]

We live in southeastern Wyoming...have some drought issues going on here too. It is the high plains desert though. I'm pretty sure it will be a great set up for the govt to step in and start controlling our water.

Just read about an the govt wanting to control our water from the watersheds to the end of the rivers...can't remember the name for the inititave..I will keep searching for it.

Read about it in the Wyoming Livestock journal.

[Tammy8]

Drought and Depression at the same time, same as the last Depression.

[Uncle Chip]

Drought??? What Drought???

North Dakota has something they want to sell you.

ND officials: Permanent flood protection needed

http://news.yahoo.com/nd-officials-permanent-flood-protection-needed-182104717.html

[glorgau]

I thought it was great - didn’t have to mow the grass.

[cripplecreek]

Yeah that part was nice but I hate the dry weather.

[doorgunner69]

There certainly are a lot more, like the soccer moms crusading against nuclear power plants, saying they did not want “radioactive” electricity in their houses...........

[P.O.E.]

Oh, sorry, you said droughts

But seriously, wouldn't having less people help solve the problem? (I don't mean euthanasia, just border and immigration law enforcement)

[Ax]

Looks like we’d better start storing up pallets full of dehydrated water.

[bgill]

I’m also surprised Texas isn’t listed. Everytime in the past that drought caused a massive sell off of livestock caused a decrease in the price at the grocery store but not this time. It was obvious the grocery price was manipulated. The increase in prices should have come after when the ranchers were trying to restock their herds.

I’m also surprised Texas isn’t listed. Someone mentioned the Llano River wasn’t completely dry but it almost was. The town of Llano, as well as several others around the state, were out of drinking water and were considering hauling it in by rail. Most cities around the state had outside watering bans with fines up to $1000 and more. Llano lucked out because the city council went out on a limb and hired a water witcher who found a water supply literally at the last minute. The Llano River is part of chain of lakes called the Highland Lakes which furnishes water and power for Central Texas. They were so low that there were only two boat ramps that were open by the end of that summer. Businesses that rely on the rivers have had year after year of dry river beds that they called it quits and closed. The hills are covered with dead trees and are still fire hazards. There’s barely a day that goes by that we’re not in a fire watch. Just a couple weeks ago, the river authority cut off water to the south Texas rice growers because there is no water to spare. It’s already reached 90 degrees so we’re expecting another long HOT dry summer.

[SunkenCiv]

This is total BS.

The worst droughts in Michigan — based on what actually happened to the living plants — happened in the late 1980s and in the 1930s. Period. In the late 80s (probably 1987, although it may have been 1988) it was sufficiently dry in Grand Rapids that street-lining trees died of “thirst” and had to be removed. Lake Michigan got low enough that I could walk out to the sandbar in Grand Haven, and it was maybe waist deep out there. The Lake water temp was at or over 80 degrees for weeks.

In the 1930s, all the grass went dormant or died, per my late father; he stated numerous times that everything green was just about gone, and what is now the front lawn here was hard, dry, cracked ground, cracks so large he could put in his whole hand.

The key to whether a drought is bad or worse is, not about the rain being much less often, but *when* it falls — at least from the standpoint of farmers, which is where this article (op-ed) seems to be coming from.

[SunkenCiv]

Heh, yeah, that was a howler, wasn’t it. I think the writer was trying to say, of the seven states, these three are part of the corn belt. I expect to see even more corn planted around here this year, because the lower yield means more acreage has to be in cultivation; the corn rotation here (probably elsewhere) is with soybean, usually a year on - year off. It’s unusual to see any other grains because feed cattle mostly ceased to exist here, and dairy cattle is quite a specialty, no small-scale dairy farmers any longer.

[ought-six]

Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio??? They’re on some of the largest fresh water lakes on the planet!!!

[SunkenCiv]

Heh, yeah, and we’d have plenty of electricity if we’d shut off some of them thar computers.

[SunkenCiv]

/bingo

[Mad Dawgg]

Also Ohio’s Borders to the South and most of the East is the Ohio River and of course most of the North Border is Lake Erie.