Drought in Western USA

Drought in Western USA is a consistent fact in more recent years. Some areas face heavier problems compared to others. Some states have more drastically urgent concerns than others. But all of us are in this together, really. As it all has to do with water. A necessity of life. Along with the air, it's really the basis for life on earth.

Think of ground-water, supplying the water table, contributing to plant growth, & more. That in turn makes possible other life. Everything is interdependent. That's ecology for you!

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Here we're especially concerned with drought's effects on the waterways of the West. They're vital to so much in the environment. We always look at how drought affects some states in the Western USA.

Map of the United States color coded according to drought and its severity

Late 2021 Map Demonstrating the Drought in the U.S.A.

Drought Meaning

Before looking into each of the eight Western U.S. states we're mainly concerned with, we want to be sure of the meaning or definition of drought. For that we consider several aspects:¹

Lengthy time-frame, with less than normal average amount of precipitation from the atmosphere

Inadequate/not enough of whatever form is bringing moisture to the earth: rain of any description, snow/sleet/ice, heavy fog, condensation forming dew

Drought stricken cracked ground with a few scraggly plants

A Drought in Western USA

Drought Monitoring Evaluations

Evaluated Multiple Ways

Palmer Indices:

Palmer Z Index - Checks moisture output within a month, ranking short-term drought vs. precipitation
Palmer Drought Severity Index - Rates 12-month precipitation, considering weather patterns, compared to norms
Palmer Hydrological Drought Index - Assesses year's moisture by checking reservoirs & water tables
Palmer indices are easily computed. They figure out water balance by incorporating temperature, precipitation, run-off & evaporation. The drawbacks: timing isn't uniform, drought warnings lag, poor accuracy in mountainous/extreme climates, drought categories arbitrarily set.

Standard Precipitation Index

Looks at specific time-frame to analyze likelihood of precipitation events
Standard Precipitation Index can look at specific short or long-term drought analysis, using long-term precipitation data. It gives the diversion from the average (+/-). Detects drought possibilities early. Drawback: No consideration for evaporation or seasonal differences.

Watershed Methods²

Use of water gauges for evaluating streamflow within watersheds over two to four years, compared with long-term data.

Drawing diagramming all the elements of nature's water cycle

Normal Water Cycle - Interrupt It In Some Way & Drought Can Occur!

Drought in Western USA State of Arizona

Colorado River Basin state representatives meet to address drought planning

A Signed Agreement is Put in Place

Water via precipitation is normally infrequent in this State of Deserts and "Sky Island" mountains. This situation makes Arizona easily susceptible to drought conditions.

Arizona depends on a supply of water from the Colorado River. It must manage that river resource very carefully.

The Colorado River Compact made an agreement to allocate the river's waters between river basin states. Additionally, Native American rights to the river's water was insured with a 1963 Supreme Court ruling.

Many new residents have moved to Arizona, increasing pressures on water supplies. When drought is at hand it affects citizens in ways they may not always notice. Others definitely notice! Ranchers & farmers, plants of the forest & fields, & animal life.³

Some Arizona drought details:³

Though not as dramatic as sudden catastrophes, drought is a destructive natural disaster, often arising slowly, but with large financial impact
Arizona's drought began about 1994.

Lake Mead above Hoover Dam shows rock areas where the lake level used to be, but now is lowered below.

The Dramatic Lake Meade on the Arizona Side
Showing Current Lake Levels are Way Down

Arizona's mountains get winter snowfall, the largest prevention for drought.

Snowmelt runoff happens slowly in cooler weather when water demands are less. Creating natural water storage. As weather warms up melting increases. Groundwater & reservoirs are better replenished, rather than with quick intermittent rainstorms.

Arizona hasn't received adequate snowfall to ward off drought since 2000.

To overcome drought in this Western USA state, above average precipitation is consistently needed over time. Particularly mountain snow.

To help, regulations on water usage have been placed. With some areas having restrictions on groundwater usage. Unfortunately there aren't statewide water rules.

Drought in Western USA State of California

At the beginning of 2014, Governor Brown declared a California drought emergency. The drought actually began two years prior, but reached emergency status that year. By 2016, with water conservation efforts & actions, the emergency status was relieved. The statewide drought lasted five years.⁴

But California is still challenged today with drought conditions. A Water Bank was implemented. Plus other management planning:

Drought in the Western State of Colorado

Colorado is using a Drought Monitor for evaluation of drought levels. Another evaluation method, using a kind-of likert scale, or a leveled rubric.

It evaluates consequences in the state because of drought. It also considers the severity of particular repercussions in an area.

Deciding which ramifications to consider was based on problems seen during historical droughts.

For instance:

Is irrigation beginning earlier?
Are rangeland plants stunted?
Are wildfires increasing?
Is snowpack low?
Are lake/river water temperatures rising?... And/or
Are dust storms increasing?
Plus numerous other factors.

An EPA approved sprinkler head is being used on a lawn for better water flows to the grass in this front yard

Using an EPA Approved Water Sprinkler
Just One of Colorado's Suggestions for Citizens to Conserve Water

Drought in Western State of New Mexico

The drought in New Mexico, in the Western USA is monitored in a similar method to Colorado. But the appearance looks a little different.

They use five different Levels of Drought, from Abnormally Dry to Exceptional Drought.

A dry desert drought landscape with a few mountains as a backdrop

We've Driven by the Lordsburg Playa Many Times
It Used to Always Have Some Water in It
Not Now or Lately!

Drought in Western USA State of Nevada

Nevada water usage by residents is concentrated in a few areas, such as the greater Las Vegas area, and Reno.

Nevada cautions its citizens that water used outside in many instances evaporates in this dry desert climate, and thus cannot be recycled for reuse. So especially in Southern Nevada, which has the largest concentration of people, many water usage plans are in place to help with drought mitigation.

Drought in West: USA State of Oklahoma

Vintage photo of two woman, man in cowboy hat, and little boy in overalls standing in the road by their 1930s pickup with a tarp over the bed. Another 1930's vehicle is behind them.

Oklahomans Moving Away From Their State's Dust-Bowl Drought in the 30's
On the Roadside Near Lordsburg NM

Oklahoma provides several resources for checking on drought conditions in their state, as well as the Western USA.

They provide a map of groundwater levels, which has environmentally important relationship with drought conditions.
For checking the status of Rivers and Lakes, a map shows you the condition of Oklahoma stream flow.
Another map monitors areas of the state which have high levels of fire danger, related to Western drought conditions.
A country-wide map shows the outlook for drought in the Western USA.
Try some water conservation tips they have listed for you.

All in all lots of Helpful Information on Oklahoma drought circumstances.

Drought in Western State of Texas

The current drought in Texas began in 2010.

Higher summertime temperatures of recent years are causing excessive evaporation of water resources from reservoirs. Since 2010 the average temperature is 2^oF higher.⁵

Ground areas dry out from this heat also, affecting rivers, which then affect connecting lakes.

In intermittent years rains from hurricanes and other substantial storms alleviate drought for a time, but the effect is temporary.⁵

Thus drought in the Western USA state of Texas is something to regularly contend with. Serious, because of the many widespread detrimental effects.

There have been wildfires, city water failures, water restriction/cut-off for farming, increased dust storms, roadway & tree damage, crop & beef price upward swings, & endangerment to power plants.⁵ There is no upside.

Soybeans growing under duress in a drought stricken field

This Texas Soybean Field Was Affected by
Farm Water Cutbacks

Old boat on its side in a field of what was formerly a lake.

"Beached" Boat on Lake Travis Texas
Because of Low Lake Waters

Texas approved a State Water Plan, with included measures to encourage water conservation.⁵ The Most Severe drought areas are in West Texas & in the Pan Handle.

Drought in Western USA: State of Utah

Water supplies for Utah's citizens arrives via their mountains' snowpack. As much as 95% of it!⁶

The state of Utah, throughout 2021, has been in a drought. Most areas in the extreme range, some parts in the severe range. A very small portion of Utah suffering from moderate drought.⁶

The state's Division of Natural Resources, Division of Water Resources, congratulated residents on their water conservation over the year of 2021: "Billions of gallons saved!"⁶

To help educate the public, Utah sponsors Drought Webinars. Plus lots more great information to help work against a drought.

In Canyonlands National Park in Utah, the Green River merges with the Colorado River. Shortly, if rafting downstream, you'd enter Cataract Canyon. Known for Class III, IV & V rapids.

Lately the Green River hasn't helped much with the resulting effects of the drought in Western USA. It's been complicated, for take-out spots at Lake Powell & related areas. Plus impacting rapids.^7,8

Colorado River as it goes through a canyon desert area

Colorado River Flows Sluggishly through Cataract Canyon in Utah

Drought in Western USA states, in fact wherever in the world it's occurring, is a serious event. We can all do our part for water conservation, and preservation of our natural resources.

Our lakes and rivers depend on your assistance.