The state table below highlights common impacts reported in the state. For more impact details, please visit the Drought Impact Reporter.

Category Impact

D0 Soil is dry; irrigation delivery begins early

Dryland crop germination is stunted

Active fire season begins

Winter resort visitation is low; snowpack is minimal

D1 Dryland pasture growth is stunted; producers give supplemental feed to cattle

Landscaping and gardens need irrigation earlier; wildlife patterns begin to change

Stock ponds and creeks are lower than usual

D2 Grazing land is inadequate

Producers increase water efficiency methods and drought-resistant crops

Fire season is longer, with high burn intensity, dry fuels, and large fire spatial extent; more fire crews are on staff

Wine country tourism increases; lake- and river-based tourism declines; boat ramps close

Trees are stressed; plants increase reproductive mechanisms; wildlife diseases increase

Water temperature increases; programs to divert water to protect fish begin

River flows decrease; reservoir levels are low and banks are exposed

D3 Livestock need expensive supplemental feed, cattle and horses are sold; little pasture remains, producers find it difficult to maintain organic meat requirements

Fruit trees bud early; producers begin irrigating in the winter

Federal water is not adequate to meet irrigation contracts; extracting supplemental groundwater is expensive

Dairy operations close

Marijuana growers illegally tap water out of rivers

Fire season lasts year-round; fires occur in typically wet parts of state; burn bans are implemented

Ski and rafting business is low, mountain communities suffer

Orchard removal and well drilling company business increase; panning for gold increases

Low river levels impede fish migration and cause lower survival rates

Wildlife encroach on developed areas; little native food and water is available for bears, which hibernate less

Water sanitation is a concern, reservoir levels drop significantly, surface water is nearly dry, flows are very low; water theft occurs

Wells and aquifer levels decrease; homeowners drill new wells

Water conservation rebate programs increase; water use restrictions are implemented; water transfers increase

Water is inadequate for agriculture, wildlife, and urban needs; reservoirs are extremely low; hydropower is restricted

D4 Fields are left fallow; orchards are removed; vegetable yields are low; honey harvest is small

Fire season is very costly; number of fires and area burned are extensive

Many recreational activities are affected

Fish rescue and relocation begins; pine beetle infestation occurs; forest mortality is high; wetlands dry up; survival of native plants and animals is low; fewer wildflowers bloom; wildlife death is widespread; algae blooms appear

Policy change; agriculture unemployment is high, food aid is needed

Poor air quality affects health; greenhouse gas emissions increase as hydropower production decreases; West Nile Virus outbreaks rise