Drought in California, March 1 to 31, 2022

For the month of March, the U.S. Drought Monitor degraded approximately the western half of the zone to extreme drought and kept the remainder of Zone 14 in severe drought. The zone saw emerging drought impacts due to the below average precipitation and relatively dry conditions the first few months of the calendar year. These impacts are similar to the previous year. However, reported impacts are more pronounced this March.

For the month of March, the U.S. Drought Monitor degraded all of Zone 15 to extreme drought. The zone saw emerging drought impacts due to the below average precipitation and relatively dry conditions the first few months of the calendar year. These impacts are similar to the previous year. However, reported impacts are more pronounced this March. Impacts to the region include; little to no allocation of water from irrigation districts to agriculture, reduced rangeland forage by as much as 85% without alternative forage, hay prices at record levels due to hay production elimination, cattle being sold, including calves that are typically sold in late Fall, as well as increasing reports of dry wells. The local economy has been significantly impacted.

For the month of March, the U.S. Drought Monitor degraded the majority of Zone 16 to extreme drought. The zone saw emerging drought impacts due to the below average precipitation and relatively dry conditions the first few months of the calendar year. These impacts are similar to the previous year. However, reported impacts are more pronounced this March. Impacts to the region include; little to no allocation of water from irrigation districts to agriculture, hauling of water, reduced rangeland forage by as much as 85% without alternative forage, hay prices at record levels due to hay production elimination, livestock stress, cattle being sold, including calves that are typically sold in late Fall, early weaning and shipping of cattle to summer range, as well as increasing reports of dry wells. The local economy has been significantly impacted.

For the month of March, the U.S. Drought Monitor degraded the far northern border of Yolo County in zone 17 to extreme drought and kept the majority of the zone in severe drought. The zone saw emerging drought impacts due to the below average precipitation and relatively dry conditions the first few months of the calendar year. These impacts are similar to the previous year. However, reported impacts are more pronounced this March. Some of the impacts the region saw included; reduced forage, decreased stock weights, livestock stress, selling of livestock, decrease in water allocation including zero planned water deliveries from the Yolo County irrigation district, increased reports of dry wells including domestic wells, hauling of water, and plans to fallow large areas of cropland.

For the month of March, the U.S. Drought Monitor kept all of Zone 18 in severe drought. The zone saw emerging drought impacts due to the below average precipitation and relatively dry conditions the first few months of the calendar year. These impacts are similar to the previous year. However, reported impacts are more pronounced this March. Some of the impacts the region saw included; reduced forage, decreased stock weights, livestock stress, selling of livestock, decrease in water allocation, increased reports of dry wells including domestic wells, hauling of water, and plans to fallow large areas of cropland.

For the month of March, the U.S. Drought Monitor degraded the far southeastern borders of the zone in Stanislaus and Tuolumne Counties. The remainder of the zone was kept in severe drought. The zone saw emerging drought impacts due to the below average precipitation and relatively dry conditions the first few months of the calendar year. These impacts are similar to the previous year. However, reported impacts are more pronounced this March including reductions to planned irrigation for agriculture.

For the month of March, the U.S. Drought Monitor degraded the majority of Zone 63 in extreme drought with only the far western border of Colusa County remaining in severe drought. The zone saw emerging drought impacts due to the below average precipitation and relatively dry conditions the first few months of the calendar year. These impacts are similar to the previous year. However, reported impacts are more pronounced this March. Impacts to the region include; little to no allocation of water from irrigation districts to agriculture, reduced rangeland forage by as much as 85% without alternative forage, hay prices at record levels due to hay production elimination, cattle being sold, including calves that are typically sold in late Fall, as well as increasing reports of dry wells. The local economy has been significantly impacted.

For the month of March, the U.S. Drought Monitor degraded the northern and western orders of Zone 66 to extreme drought and kept the remainder of the zone in severe drought. The zone saw emerging drought impacts due to the below average precipitation and relatively dry conditions the first few months of the calendar year. These impacts are similar to the previous year. However, reported impacts are more pronounced this March. Impacts to the region include; little to no allocation of water from irrigation districts to agriculture, reduced rangeland forage by as much as 85% without alternative forage, hay prices at record levels due to hay production elimination, cattle being sold, including calves that are typically sold in late Fall, early weaning and shipping of cattle to summer range, as well as increasing reports of dry wells. The local economy has been significantly impacted.

For the month of March, the U.S. Drought Monitor degraded the far southern border of Tuolumne County in Zone 67 to extreme drought with the majority of the zone remaining in severe drought. The zone saw emerging drought impacts due to the below average precipitation and relatively dry conditions the first few months of the calendar year. These impacts are similar to the previous year. However, reported impacts are more pronounced this March. Some of the impacts the region saw included; reduced forage, livestock stress, selling of livestock, decrease in water allocation, and hauling of water.

For the month of March, the U.S. Drought Monitor degraded the far northwestern portion of Zone 68 to extreme drought and kept the remainder of the zone in severe drought. The zone saw emerging drought impacts due to the below average precipitation and relatively dry conditions the first few months of the calendar year. These impacts are similar to the previous year. However, reported impacts are more pronounced this March. Impacts to the region include; little to no allocation of water from irrigation districts to agriculture, reduced rangeland forage by as much as 85% without alternative forage, hay prices at record levels due to hay production elimination, cattle being sold, including calves that are typically sold in late Fall, early weaning and shipping of cattle to summer range, reports that stock ponds are only a third full without replenishment, as well as increasing reports of dry wells. The local economy has been significantly impacted.

For the month of March, the U.S. Drought Monitor degraded a small portion of Tuolumne County in southern most portion of Zone 69 to extreme drought with the remainder of the zone in severe drought. The zone saw emerging drought impacts due to the below average precipitation and relatively dry conditions the first few months of the calendar year. These impacts are similar to the previous year. However, reported impacts are more pronounced this March. Some of the impacts the region saw included; reduced forage, livestock stress, selling of livestock, decrease in water allocation, and hauling of water.

For the month of March, the U.S. Drought Monitor degraded all of Zone 13 to extreme drought. The zone saw emerging drought impacts due to the below average precipitation and relatively dry conditions the first few months of the calendar year. These impacts are similar to the previous year. However, reported impacts are more pronounced this March.