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....

[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.