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Drought

All articles tagged with #drought

Record-breaking El Niño triggers emergency declarations in California and global drought warnings
climate-and-policy16 days ago

Record-breaking El Niño triggers emergency declarations in California and global drought warnings

A historic El Niño event, forecast to be the strongest since records began in the 1870s, is prompting immediate emergency responses. California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency on September 21 to mobilize resources against anticipated winter storms, flooding, and coastal erosion. Meanwhile, global experts warn of severe droughts in southern Africa and Indonesia, with sea surface temperatures in the central Pacific already 2.9°C above baseline.

via Nature|
#california-emergency#climate-and-policy#climate-change
Drought and food shortages push more black bears into U.S. neighborhoods
environment22 days ago

Drought and food shortages push more black bears into U.S. neighborhoods

A surge in black bear sightings and incidents this year spans several states as drought and scarce natural food push bears toward human spaces. Colorado recorded 6,129 sightings in 2026 (up from 3,115 in 2025), Utah logged 168 bear-related responses (double last year), and New Mexico reported 267 bears killed (255 for depredation and 42 from road or other causes). Experts cite hyperphagia before winter and increased home surveillance as factors in higher counts. Officials urge residents to secure trash in bear-proof containers, clean grills, and remove attractants like pet food, bird feeders, and fruit trees to reduce conflicts and support wildlife education as habitats face expansion.

via wlwt.com|
#bear-attractants#bear-sightings#black-bears
Record-Breaking Heat Seizes the U.S. as El Niño Looms and Wildfires Rage
environment29 days ago

Record-Breaking Heat Seizes the U.S. as El Niño Looms and Wildfires Rage

NOAA/NCEI data show August 2026 was the warmest on record for the 48 contiguous states, making it the hottest August, summer, and year-to-date in 131 years of records. Western states posted unprecedented warmth, and year-to-date temperatures averaged 57.98°F, about 0.08°F above 2012. Precipitation is below average (about 18.56 inches year-to-date, ~10% below long-term average), with widespread drought (79% abnormally dry, 59% in drought). Lake Mead and Lake Powell have hit their lowest combined levels on record. An emerging El Niño could bring wetter conditions and drought relief to the South and West, but not solve long-term water issues. Wildfires have burned 8.4 million acres across 53,665 fires through Sept. 8, with the Morrill Fire (Nebraska) and Big Grass Fire (Oregon) the largest on record for their states; preparedness level eased to 3 as conditions improved, though about 14,000 firefighters remain on the line.

via Yale Climate Connections|
#climate-change#drought#el-nino
Colorado River 'Tripwire' Could Push Basin Dispute to Supreme Court
environment1 month ago

Colorado River 'Tripwire' Could Push Basin Dispute to Supreme Court

Amid a record Western drought, experts warn the Colorado River’s 10-year flow may dip below the compact’s tripwire of 82.5 million acre-feet by October, risking years of litigation at the Supreme Court over how water should be allocated among seven basin states, with potential steep cuts affecting Colorado’s Front Range, downstream communities, tribes, and Mexico depending on the ruling and ongoing negotiations.

via Colorado Public Radio|
#colorado-river#drought#environment
Heat and drought push France's wine harvest toward a 70-year low
world1 month ago

Heat and drought push France's wine harvest toward a 70-year low

France's wine harvest is expected to fall below 3.4 billion liters this year due to drought and heat waves, with Champagne output roughly halved and grape weights at 20-year lows; if confirmed, this would be France's smallest crop since 1957. The drought's economic damage is estimated at €10-€15 billion, with €1 billion in emergency farm aid announced but considered insufficient.

via politico.eu|
#champagne#drought#france
Heat and drought imperil France’s iconic cheeses and their terroir
world1 month ago

Heat and drought imperil France’s iconic cheeses and their terroir

Historic heat waves and summer drought are drying French pastures, shrinking milk yields and forcing Salers cheese producers to halt production or switch to other cheeses like Cantal; regulators have temporarily relaxed grazing and fodder rules for several AOP cheeses to cope with the drought; research suggests grass-fed cows produce richer, more aromatic cheeses with healthier omega-3, implying climate-driven feed changes could subtly alter flavor and terroir, threatening livelihoods and the traditional cheese-making culture.

via CNN|
#aop#climate-change#drought
California Bans Ornamental Turf in Phased Statewide Rollout
environment1 month ago

California Bans Ornamental Turf in Phased Statewide Rollout

California's new law AB 1572 bans the use of potable water for ornamental grass on state government properties, schools, cities, counties, and HOAs, starting Jan 1, with further phases expanding to commercial properties in 2028 and HOAs in 2029. Exemptions cover functional turf and areas used for recreation; enforcement rests with local water providers, with penalties up to $1,000 per day for violations. Proponents say the rule will save millions of gallons of water, while opponents warn about readiness and costs, prompting some communities to begin replacing grass now.

via The Mercury News|
#ab-1572#drought#environment
Elephant Butte Reservoir Dives to 1.4% Capacity Amid Rio Grande Strain
environment1 month ago

Elephant Butte Reservoir Dives to 1.4% Capacity Amid Rio Grande Strain

New Mexico’s Elephant Butte Reservoir, the state’s largest, plunged to 1.4% capacity in July 2026 after years of extreme drought and record early snowmelt, stressing Rio Grande irrigation for farms in New Mexico and Texas and exposing debris along the shoreline. Water releases ended after July 28, offering a slow rebound, but the drought underscores ongoing water-scarcity concerns in the basin. NASA-backed satellite monitoring and analysis are helping managers track water availability and guide allocation decisions.

via Science Daily|
#drought#elephant-butte-reservoir#environment
UK Sees Hottest Summer on Record as Climate Crisis Intensifies
science1 month ago

UK Sees Hottest Summer on Record as Climate Crisis Intensifies

Provisional Met Office data show the UK's summer 2026 was the hottest on record since 1884, with a mean temperature of 16.5C and a peak 38.1C in London; June was the hottest on record, and scientists say the heatwaves were made about 130 times more likely by human-caused climate change. The heat contributed to thousands of excess deaths, drought, and wildfires across Europe, and authorities expect hotter, drier summers to continue. The period has fueled political debate over climate policy in the UK as officials warn this is the new normal under warming conditions.

via The Guardian|
#climate-change#drought#heatwaves
Arizona Braces for Major Colorado River Cuts Threatening Winter Greens
environment1 month ago

Arizona Braces for Major Colorado River Cuts Threatening Winter Greens

Arizona faces about a 30% cut in Colorado River water in 2027–28 under a federal plan as Lake Mead and Lake Powell hit record lows, risking the nation’s winter greens since Yuma County grows the majority of U.S. leafy greens. The reductions could force farmers to fallow land, shift crops, and drive up prices for cities, dairies, and food manufacturers, with broader implications for tribes, industries, and the regional economy.

via NBC News|
#arizona#central-arizona-project#colorado-river
Colorado River cuts spark broad uncertainty for Western cities and farms
environment1 month ago

Colorado River cuts spark broad uncertainty for Western cities and farms

A federal plan to trim Colorado River water use by about 1.25 million acre-feet annually for the next two years will force California, Nevada, and Arizona to take mandatory cuts while other states may voluntarily reduce, intensifying uncertainty for cities, farmers, and tribes across seven states as reservoirs fall to record lows and drought persists, with communities like Cave Creek facing continued growth limits and farmers delaying plantings.

via ABC7 Los Angeles|
#bureau-of-reclamation#colorado-river#drought
Puerto Rico’s Water Crisis Exposes Decades of Aging Infrastructure
world1 month ago

Puerto Rico’s Water Crisis Exposes Decades of Aging Infrastructure

Puerto Rico is facing a worsening water emergency driven by drought and aging infrastructure, including ruptures in the San Juan–area Superaqueduct that have forced weeks of mandatory water rationing. Residents rely on cisterns, bottled water, and bucket baths, with the burden falling hardest on the elderly and low-income communities. Authorities cite decades of neglect and underinvestment, while federal funds are pledged but the timeline for relief remains unclear as officials evaluate next steps, potential emergencies, and long-term fixes.

via CNN|
#aging-infrastructure#drought#puerto-rico