Drought in California, June 1 to 30, 2021

For the month of June, the U.S. Drought Monitor did not make changes to Zone 13 which covers northwestern Shasta County. The majority of zone 13 was in exceptional drought (D4) with the remaining areas of Zone 13 in extreme drought (D3). They continue to mention that we will see drought impacts expand into the summer, including but not limited too: agriculture, water supplies, recreation, and ecosystems. They also noted concern for the wildfire season given the rapid spread and community impacts from the Salt Fire that started near Lakehead, CA. Drought preparedness is a top priority given back-to-back dry years. All of Zone 13 is in the official drought emergency proclamation. On June 15th, the Shasta County Board of Supervisors declared a countywide drought emergency and included a water conservation program.

For the month of June, the U.S. Drought Monitor continued to have zone 14 in both extreme and exceptional drought (D3 and D4), which covers northeast Shasta County. They mentioned that we will see drought impacts expand into the summer, including but not limited too: agriculture, water supplies, recreation, and ecosystems. They also noted concern for the wildfire season and that drought preparedness is key given back-to-back dry years. All of zone 14 is in the official drought emergency proclamation. On June 15th, the Shasta County Board of Supervisors declared a countywide drought emergency and included a water conservation program.

For the month of June, the U.S. Drought Monitor kept all of zone 15, which includes portions of Shasta and Tehama counties, in exceptional drought (D4). They continue to mention that we will see drought impacts expand into the summer, including but not limited too: agriculture, water supplies, recreation, and ecosystems. They also noted concern for the wildfire season and that drought preparedness is key given back-to-back dry years. Some of the impacts the region saw included: reduced forage, decreased stock weights, selling of livestock, livestock stress, reduced grazing on public lands, reduced market price for cattle, and increased pricing for small grain and hay crops. The area also saw: decreased water allocation, hauling of water, increased groundwater use, land subsidence, low to dry rivers/ponds/springs, dry wells, and installation of new wells. All of zone 15 is in the official drought emergency proclamation. On June 15th, the Shasta County Board of Supervisors declared a countywide drought emergency and included a water conservation program.

For the month of June, the U.S. Drought Monitor continued to have all of zone 16 in exceptional drought (D4). They continue to mention that we will see drought impacts expand into the summer, including but not limited too: agriculture, water supplies, recreation, and ecosystems. They also noted concern for the wildfire season and that drought preparedness is key given back-to-back dry years. Some of the impacts to the region included: continued removal of houseboats from Lake Oroville, reduced forage, decreased water allocation, decreased stock weights, selling of livestock, early shipping of cattle to summer range, completely dry wells, hauling water, and low to dry rivers/ponds/springs. All of zone 16 is in the official drought emergency proclamation. By June 18th, eight out of ten boat launches around Oroville were closed.

For the month of June, the U.S. Drought Monitor continued to have all of zone 17, which includes portions Yolo, Solano, Sutter, and Sacramento County in exceptional drought (D4). They continue to mention that we will see drought impacts expand into the summer, including but not limited too: agriculture, water supplies, recreation, and ecosystems. They also noted concern for the wildfire season and that drought preparedness is key given back-to-back dry years. The area saw: reduced forage, decreased water allocation, decreased stock weights, selling of livestock, early shipping of cattle to summer range, hauling of water, low rivers/ponds/springs, and installation of new wells. All of zone 17 is in the official drought emergency proclamation. The city of Folsom was asked to conserve 10% of water usage on June 2nd. The low water levels on Folsom Lake caused the closure of all but one of the 13 boat ramps by Memorial Day Weekend. Some older almond trees in the Solano-Yolo county area were left un-watered as farmers opted to irrigate younger trees.

For the month of June, the U.S. Drought Monitor kept all of zone 18 in exceptional drought (D4). They continue to mention that we will see drought impacts expand into the summer, including but not limited too: agriculture, water supplies, recreation, and ecosystems. They also noted concern for the wildfire season and that drought preparedness is key given back-to-back dry years. A giant rock wall started constructed across a river in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta on June 3rd to protect a vital freshwater estuary from saltwater as rivers became too low to push the brackish waters from the bay. The rock barrier was built in the same place as it was in 2015 on the West False River to keep saltwater away from pumping stations. This will protect a water source for nearly 30 million Californians. Construction completed on June 22nd. The barrier will be removed before Nov. 30. Construction and removal of the Barrier was funded by DWR at roughly $37 million. Farmers north and south of the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta will continue to receive no water from the Central Valley Project. All of zone 18 is in the official drought emergency proclamation. The Delta cross channel gates remain closed.

For the month of June, the U.S. Drought Monitor kept northwestern San Joaquin County in Zone 19 in exceptional drought (D4) and the rest of Zone 19 in extreme drought (D3).They continue to mention that we will see drought impacts expand into the summer, including but not limited too: agriculture, water supplies, recreation, and ecosystems. They also noted concern for the wildfire season and that drought preparedness is key given back-to-back dry years. All of zone 19 is in the official drought emergency proclamation.

For the month of June, the U.S. Drought Monitor continued exceptional drought (D4) for roughly half of zone 63, which covers western Tehama, Glenn, and Colusa counties, and extreme drought (D3) for the remaining western portion of Zone 63. They continue to mention that we will see drought impacts expand into the summer, including but not limited too: agriculture, water supplies, recreation, and ecosystems. They also noted concern for the wildfire season and that drought preparedness is key given back-to-back dry years. All of zone 63 is in the official drought emergency proclamation. On June 15th, the Shasta County Board of Supervisors declared a countywide drought emergency and included a water conservation program.

For the month of June, the U.S. Drought Monitor continued exceptional drought (D4) for the majority of Zone 66, which covers the northeast foothills and portions of the Sacramento Valley, and continued extreme drought (D3) for the far southeastern portion of Zone 66 in Butte County. They mentioned that we will see drought impacts expand into the summer, including but not limited too: agriculture, water supplies, recreation, and ecosystems. They also noted concern for the wildfire season and that drought preparedness is key given back-to-back dry years. All of zone 66 is in the official drought emergency proclamation. On June 15th, the Shasta County Board of Supervisors declared a countywide drought emergency and included a water conservation program.

For the month of June, the U.S. Drought Monitor continued extreme drought (D3) in zone 67, which covers the Motherlode. They mentioned that we will see drought impacts expand into the summer, including but not limited too: agriculture, water supplies, recreation, and ecosystems. They also noted concern for the wildfire season and that drought preparedness is key given back-to-back dry years. The area continued to see: reduced forage, decreased water allocation, decreased stock weights, and hauling of water. All of zone 67 is in the official drought emergency proclamation.

For the month of June, the U.S. Drought Monitor kept the eastern portions of Tehama, Butte and Shasta Counties in Zone 68 in exceptional drought and continued extreme drought (D3) for the remainder of Zone 68, which covers western Plumas County and Lassen National Park. They mentioned that we will see drought impacts expand into the summer, including but not limited too: agriculture, water supplies, recreation, and ecosystems. They also noted concern for the wildfire season and that drought preparedness is key given back-to-back dry years. All of zone 68 is in the official drought emergency proclamation. On June 15th, the Shasta County Board of Supervisors declared a countywide drought emergency and included a water conservation program.

For the month of June, the U.S. Drought Monitor placed the central portion of Tuolomne County in Zone 69, in exceptional drought (D4). The rest of Zone 69, which covers the west slope of the Sierra Nevada, remains in extreme drought (D3).They mentioned that we will see drought impacts expand into the summer, including but not limited too: agriculture, water supplies, recreation, and ecosystems. They also noted concern for the wildfire season and that drought preparedness is key given back-to-back dry years. All of zone 69 is in the official drought emergency proclamation.