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Drought Update
This update will provide news and resources related to the current drought conditions, as well as future community actions.
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Core Office Hours: Mon-Wed. 10am-3pm
Lone Elk Mall
222 E Main St. Suite 2B
Ennis MT 59729
406-682-3181
info@madisoncd.org
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Community Drought Discussion Summary
August 3rd, 2021
6:00pm-8:30pm
The Madison Valley Public Libaray
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Introduction
This discussion was hosted by The Madison Conservation District and the Madison Valley Ranchlands Group. About a dozen community members from agriculture, fishing, and urban backgrounds attended.
Meeting Objectives
- Present data on current drought conditions and provide context from previous drought events
- Share resources to address challenges associated with drought
- Discuss short and long term community actions for drought mitigation
- Share knowledge, observations, experiences and considerations
Contributing Factors of Drought
The two driving factors for drought are temperature and precipitation. This year we have had high temperatures and low precipitation, coming together to create severe drought conditions. These two factors are largely beyond our control, but we can control water management and storage, as well as the landscape’s resilience to future drought.
Current Drought Data (see attached presentationl linked below)
The USDA regularly releases drought reports rating areas from D0 (abnormally dry) to D4 (exceptional drought). Going into the fall of 2019, there was widespread slight drought, much of the state was in D0 and D1. By March 1st, 2021, SNOTEL data was reporting 90-100% of the snow water equivalent (SWE) that would be expected in a normal year. By June 1st, Madison valley had dropped to 61% SWE, and all SNOTEL sites were reporting 0% by June 15th. June was exceptionally dry and hot with approximately 1/10in of rain in Ennis for the entire month and many more days than normal above 90degF. Drought conditions have continued to worsen since then, and most of Madison County is now in D3 (extreme drought) or D4 (Exceptional drought). Much of the D3 area is trending toward D4 conditions, but the first week of August has shown improvement The Drought Monitoring product is still new and constantly improving. You can submit your own observations and photos to help keep the maps accurate and contribute to more localized reporting. Refer to the “Resources” section at the end for a link to the portal.
Local Rain Gauge Readings
There are 6 rain gauges in the area that have been monitored since May. Locations include Cameron, Virginia City, Sheridan, Harrison, Jeffers and Ennis. The month of May was drier than usual, but the rain gauges still reported between 1.5 and 4 inches of precipitation. In June, the Madison Valley received only about 5-10% of normal precipitation. July was better than June, but the rain didn’t come until the end of the month, meaning there was a very long period with little to no precipitation at all. This summer there have been a total of 31 days of temperatures above 90 Degrees F so far. The previous record was 21 days in 1988.
Opportunities and Actions
- Short term actions: Hoot owl restrictions, limiting irrigation, watering strategically to limit losses to evaporation
- Long term: State is updating current drought plan, which was last updated in 1985. Representatives from Madison county are requested. They are trying to incorporate adaptive management into the plan, engage community members and stakeholders, and represent all water use groups. If you are interested in becoming a representative, please contact Ann Schwend @ASchwend@mt.gov.
Resources
- Emergency Aid: FSA and NRCS have emergency aid available any time your area is in D4 drought. This aid is mostly aimed toward agriculture, and is not proactive. You must prove that you experienced drought, and then apply for the aid after the fact. There is little to no aid for other financial impacts of drought; recreation, tourism, municipal access to water, etc. Small business loans for folks not associated with agriculture could be beneficial.
- MCD cost share program: The Madison Conservation District is currently starting a cost share program. This funding will be for projects on private land that benefit natural resources. If you can tie a project to drought resilience, it will increase your likelihood of receiving funds.
- CRP lands: In times of extreme drought, there is a possibility of grazing Conservation Reserve Program lands. These lands are generally protected and grazing is not allowed. Special permission can be granted in extreme cases, but providing water for animals can be difficult.
- TIP (Targeted Implementation Plan) Funding: NRCS has received funding for the East Tobacco Roots Riparian Health Project. This project provides funding for landowners to complete work that improve their riparian pastures, and ultimately improve stream health. Having healthy riparian areas and streams is essential to increasing our community’s drought resilience. Reach out to the Madison CD (info@madisoncd.org) or NRCS (john.wagoner@usda.gov) if you or someone you know if interested.
- MSU Extension: Kaleena Miller (kaleena.miller1@montana.edu) is the MSU extension agent for Madison County, and is an excellent resource. She can help answer questions about watering, soil health, fruit trees, lawns, etc.
- Greater Yellowstone Climate Assessment: The Greater Yellowstone Climate Assessment Report was published as a collaborative effort between Montana State University, The Greater Yellowstone Coalition, USGS, University of Wyoming, and Mountain Works inc. The report outlines current trends in the GY climate and predictions for the future.
- Governor’s Drought and Water Supply Advisory Committee: This committee is responsible for creating state drought management plans, monthly water supply assessments, reporting on local impacts, mitigation strategies, and directing resources to assist regions experiencing drought. It is made up of representatives from the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation; Agriculture; Commerce; Fish, Wildlife and Parks; Military Affairs; Environmental Quality; and livestock.
- InciWeb: InciWeb Provides updates on wildfire information.
- AirNow:AirNow is an EPA site used to track air quality. It can be used to look at current air quality, air quality health classifications, and forecasts for future air quality.
Experiences/Observations/Discussion
There was consensus that drought conditions are the worst in many decades throughout the entire valley. Grasshoppers are extremely bad in some areas, and eating everything the cows don’t. Reports of the first hay cuttings reduced by 30% compared to last year, and second cuttings non-existent or also significantly reduced . Some reported reductions as high was 50% compared to last year due to the combination of the drought and the late May frost. It is extremely difficult to find hay, and even if it can be found it is extremely expensive. Ranchers are selling cows due to lack of food supply. There is potential for lower calf weights this year as well. The recent rain will be helpful, but rain at the beginning of the season is really important and difficult to make up for that loss. In a year without drought, the snowmelt would lead to a more gradual decline after peak flow, and there would be a recharge later in the season from early summer precipitation. Due to light snowpack and rapid snowmelt, there was less consistent water supply entering the watershed. One or two years of drought are hard to weather, but if we have a third year (next year), it may be ruinous for smaller operations. It will take a few years of normal conditions to recharge the system following these past two years.
The efficiency of pivot irrigation compared to flood irrigating was discussed. Pivot irrigation leads to less evaporation, but flood irrigation thoroughly soaks the soil and contributes to recharge. When irrigating, it is more effective to water less frequently and more thoroughly, allowing the water to soak deep into the soil and encouraging deeper root growth. This contributes to drought resilience later in the season.
One important aspect of drought resilience is water storage. Having water stored in large reservoirs leads to evaporation and high water temperatures. It was suggested that taking water from streams early in the season is not necessarily a bad thing because it will keep water on the landscape and recharge streams later on. Another suggestion for improving water retention was Beaver Dam Analogs (BDA) which can slow the stream enough for water to access floodplains. It also slows sediment, creates habitat, and encourages vegetation growth. It is important not to create a full burrier in order to allow fish migration and avoid impounding water.
Next Steps
Moving forward, an important long-term objective is to create a local drought plan for Madison Valley so that our community has a clearer plan for the next major drought. In order to do this, community outreach and education are essential, and this season is an opportunity to recognize the importance of planning for drought. We will continue to host community meetings and events to facilitate this discussion and planning effort in the area. Please feel free to touch base anytime with questions, concerns, or considerations.
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TIP (Targeted Implementation Plan): Letter to Madison County Residents
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Hello Friends and Neighbors,
We are sending you this letter because your property falls within the focus area boundary of the East Tobacco Roots Riparian Health project set to begin in 2022. Through this voluntary conservation project in Madison County, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) proposes to use conservation practices to create riparian pastures. These newly created pastures will allow for greater control of livestock impacts to riparian areas. In addition to grazing infrastructure practices, there will be options for planting trees and shrubs or re-planting pastures, if needed. Participants will work with NRCS to develop a plan specific to your goals and the needs on your property.
Are you interested in improving the health and condition of the streams flowing through your property? We, the staff of the Sheridan NRCS Field Office, would like to hear from you and discuss the potential benefits of this project. The streams within the focused project area include Moore’s Creek, South Meadow Creek, North Meadow Creek, and Hot Springs Creek which all originate in the Eastern Tobacco Root Mountains and ultimately make their way to the Madison River.
The Montana Department of Environmental Quality (MT-DEQ) has classified these streams as “Impaired” due to pollution from excess nutrients, E. Coli, or heavy metals. Data provided by MT-DEQ in the Madison Nutrient, E. coli, and Metal TMDL and Water Quality Improvement Plan suggests that improvements to riparian grazing management could improve vegetation along the streams, positively impact wildlife habitat and decrease pollutants and sediments to streams.
We realize that the impairments to these streams are not only due to livestock nor do they only occur on private land; however, our agency’s mission is to help private landowners and agricultural producers meet your land management objectives. Our goal over the next three years is to help willing landowners to improve riparian health on 20% of the stream miles in the East Tobacco Roots Riparian Health project area by adopting long-lasting changes to grazing and pasture management.
For more information, or to apply for this NRCS project, please contact your local NRCS Field office in Sheridan at 406-842-5741.
Thank You
John Wagoner
District Conservationist
USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service
402 S. Main Street
Sheridan, MT 59749
Phone: 406-842-5741 X3
john.wagoner@usda.gov
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Preventing Weed Spread from Hay
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