8 states running out of water

Sam Stebbins, Thomas C. Frohlich, Michael B. Sauter and Evan Comen | 24/7 Wall St.

Although drought conditions have improved in many regions of the United States, higher than average summer temperatures and patchy rainfall over the summer has contributed to one of the worst wildfire seasons on record. There are currently at least 60 large fires burning across the country. So far this year, more than 8 million acres have been destroyed by fire, a level of devastation seen in only six other years since 1960.

It is the fourth consecutive year of drought for most of the western United States. The dry summer has raised particular concern about California, where 46% of land area is in a state of exceptional drought conditions — the worst level of drought — up slightly from the already especially bad drought level in the spring. This was the highest such share nationwide and the kind of water shortage that happens only once a century.

According to a study by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), “Droughts in the U.S. Southwest and Central Plains during the last half of this century could be drier and longer than drought conditions seen in those regions in the last 1,000 years.”

Based on the most recent drought levels estimated as of the week ended Sept. 1 from the U.S. Drought Monitor, 24/7 Wall St. identified the eight states with the most widespread severe to exceptional drought conditions. During periods of severe drought or extreme drought, crop or pasture losses are likely, and water shortages and restrictions are common. During times of exceptional drought, these conditions are intensified and water shortages are considered water emergencies.

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In an interview with 24/7 Wall St., Brad Rippey, agricultural meteorologist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), said, “Where people live and where the precipitation falls are two completely different areas.” Consequently, states rely on a range of water sources, and water needs to be transported to meet water demands in each state.

While Great Plains states rely heavily on groundwater, the western part of the country relies more heavily on surface water, which depends on precipitation and is replenished each year primarily by the spring thaw. Snowpack levels, therefore, are very important for water supplies.

The U.S. climate is also highly variable, which means wet seasons in different parts of the country occur at different times during the year. For large swaths of the nation, the wet season is primarily in the early spring. Across the Great Plains and southward, on the other hand, the wet season typically peaks during May, June and July. In June, because of extended rainfall, the country experienced a one-year low in drought levels nationwide. Unfortunately for many of these states that experienced severe flooding during the wet season, conditions have deteriorated again. “It is a bit ironic that some of these western Gulf Coast region areas like eastern Texas had the worst flooding in at least 25 years just three months ago, but they’ve had hardly a drop of rain since, so they’ve slipped back into drought fairly quickly,” Rippey said.

The ramifications of such severe drought conditions for these states and for the nation are manifold. In California alone, the drought has resulted in the loss of $900 million in crop revenue and $350 million in dairy and live stock revenue.

Beyond the economic impacts, municipal cutbacks and water restrictions have a tangible impact on individuals living in these areas. In addition, “things have gotten worse particularly in the interior,” Rippey said. “They didn’t get (a spring rainfall) this year — it has been very hot, very dry, on top of lack of snowpack. For that reason, we had a couple million acres burned due to wildfires across the Northwest. A really devastating wildfire season, especially for the Northwest.” As of the middle of August, California, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington — states with the worst drought conditions in the nation — were reporting at least five large active fires each. In Montana and Washington, there are 14 fires, trailing Idaho, that are at least 16 large fires raging across the state.

On the bright side, Rippey noted that the current drought in California is approaching the level of drought experienced in the late 1970s — the last time such drought levels affected the state. This time, reservoirs are at higher levels than they were in the '70s, and water consumption is lower. It appears that people are more conscious of the situation, and there may be ways for state officials to adjust to the problem.

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To identify the states running out of water, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the percentage of land area in severe to exceptional drought from the U.S. Drought Monitor as of the week ended Sept. 1. To be considered, a state needed to have at least 20% of its land area in severe to exceptional drought conditions.

These are the eight states running out of water.

8. South Carolina

> Pct. Severe drought 26.7%

> Pct. extreme drought: 0.0%

> Pct. exceptional drought: 0.0%

With more than one-quarter of the state’s land under severe drought conditions, nearly 2.8 million people in South Carolina live in drought areas. Earlier this summer, local governments encouraged several counties, including York and Lancaster, to adhere to water restriction policies.The effects of the state’s dry conditions extend beyond the limits of the drought’s borders. Agriculture is crucial to the South Carolina economy, and severe droughts are often responsible for crop or pasture losses. Though the worst drought conditions are confined to a stretch of land across the middle of the state, the vast majority of South Carolina is either under moderate drought conditions or is abnormally dry. Only a sliver of land along the coast and the westernmost half of Oconee County remain unaffected.

7. Utah

> Pct. Severe drought 26.8%

> Pct. extreme drought: 0.0%

> Pct. exceptional drought: 0.0%

During the past three years, most of Utah has experienced abnormally dry to extreme drought conditions. Heavy August rainfall, which increases reservoir levels for the fall and winter months, have helped mitigate drought conditions. Despite this, the drought is parching 26.8% of Utah and is affecting an estimated 2.6 million people. In severe drought conditions, where crop and pasture losses are likely, farmers are especially vulnerable. The agricultural industry, which makes up 14% of the state’s economy, depends heavily on water supply and accounts for 82% of statewide water usage. Earlier this year, when statewide precipitation was just 47% of the yearly average, the USDA designated seven Utah counties as primary natural disaster areas. Farmers in the designated counties were eligible for emergency low-interest loans. Around this time, Utah’s Legislature approved a bill that grants about $8 million every year to preconstruction of the Lake Powell Pipeline, infrastructure that would help the state deal with future droughts by routing water from a dam site in Arizona to reservoirs in Utah.

6. Montana

> Pct. Severe drought 10.1%

> Pct. extreme drought: 18.8%

> Pct. exceptional drought: 0.0%

Over one-quarter of Montana is currently experiencing either severe or extreme drought conditions. In mid-July, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack informed Gov. Steve Bullock that 15 state counties are considered natural disaster areas due to the ongoing drought. Though the worst conditions are confined to the western third of state, the drought is affecting roughly half of the state’s 1 million residents. In Butte, water usage restrictions are in effect. Households that water their lawns have to do so on certain designated days and never between the hours of 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. Violators can be fined and lose watering privileges altogether. Roughly a decade ago, the state’s Department of Agriculture established The Hay Hotline. Still active today, the service is intended to help ranchers who lost pasture land due to wildfires that can be common in droughts.

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5. Idaho

> Pct. Severe drought 18.8%

> Pct. extreme drought: 29.3%

> Pct. exceptional drought: 0.0%

Nearly 50% of Idaho is currently in a state of either severe or extreme drought conditions. The worst of the drought stretches along Idaho’s western border and encompasses the entire northern tip of the state, from the top of Idaho County through Boundary County. Nearly 1.5 million state residents are affected by the drought. Droughts create dry conditions that increase the likelihood of wildfires. Currently, there are wildfires burning in west-central and northern Idaho that have led to the evacuation of residents and the deployment of over 1,000 firefighters. The drought in Idaho is a part of a much larger national pattern that encompasses much of the western United States. Idaho has experienced severe drought conditions every year since 2012. The state’s Department of Agriculture reinitiated the Idaho Rangeland Drought Task Group last year to help drought-affected farmers take advantage of assistance provided by federal and state agencies.

4. Nevada

> Pct. Severe drought 38.6%

> Pct. extreme drought: 21.6%

> Pct. exceptional drought: 15.9%

Divided into arid and semi-arid climatic regions, Nevada has the driest climate of any other state in the country. Due to the state’s dry conditions, laws have been put in place that prohibit new homes from planting grass in their front yards and that provide incentives for homeowners to get rid of existing lawns. However, this summer has been even drier than usual. Slightly more than 76% of Nevada is currently in a state of severe to exceptional drought conditions. Nearly 2.6 million Nevada residents live in drought areas. The Sierra Nevada Mountains and Lake Mead supply Nevada and much of the region with water. Both supplies are weak compared to historical levels. Snowmelt from the Sierra Nevada range is low because of the warm winter, and Lake Mead’s water level has dropped steadily since the regional drought began.

3. California

> Pct. Severe drought 21.3%

> Pct. extreme drought: 25.1%

> Pct. exceptional drought: 46.0%

More than 92% of California is currently in a state of severe to exceptional drought, one of the highest such shares nationwide. About 46% of the state experienced exceptional drought conditions, the worst possible drought level and by far the highest such share nationwide. By contrast, only about 3% of the nation was in a state of exceptional drought, and only one other state, Nevada, was afflicted by exceptional drought conditions.

California’s current water shortage crisis is in the midst of its fourth straight year. Severe to exceptional drought conditions affected the entire state for two straight months in summer 2014. More than 36.6 million Californians live in areas affected by drought, the highest number of people living in such conditions. However, the number of people affected by the California drought may be far larger as the drought’s impact can extend far beyond the state. Most of California’s water usage is for agriculture, and the state generates a huge portion of the nation’s food, including more than two-thirds of the country’s fruits and nuts. The exceptional drought conditions affecting nearly half of the state can cause widespread crop and pasture losses.

2. Washington

> Pct. Severe drought 32.0%

> Pct. extreme drought: 68.0%

> Pct. exceptional drought: 0.0%

All of Washington is experiencing either severe or extreme drought conditions. The state’s natural resources are also strained. In July, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife restricted fishing on more than 60 rivers and streams across the state to protect wildlife already under stress from low water flows due to the the drought and the resulting increasing water temperatures. Seattle, Washington’s largest city, is notorious for its rainy weather. However, it is currently going through a severe drought after four consecutive months from the spring through summer of well below average rainfall. On the other side of the state, Spokane, Washington’s second-largest city, is experiencing even worse drought conditions.

1. Oregon

> Pct. Severe drought 32.7%

> Pct. extreme drought: 67.3%

> Pct. exceptional drought: 0.0%

All of Oregon is currently in a state of severe to extreme drought, making it the driest state in the country. At 67.3%, a majority of the state is in extreme drought conditions, the second-largest share of any state in the country. As is the case with much of the western United States, Oregon relies on snowmelt for its water supply. This year, due to low snow precipitation, the snowpacks have been smaller than average. As a result, the contribution from the annual snowmelt to the state’s water reservoirs was also below average. Many cities across the state have already asked residents to minimize water usage. Vancouver, one of the largest cities in Canada that is just north of the Washington border, is affected by the same drought system. The coastal city in British Columbia has already imposed mandatory restrictions, forbidding residents to water their lawns, refill swimming pools or wash their cars.

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