News Release
Drought Report Released
6/7/2004
Kris Goss
406-444-3862
kgoss@state.mt.us
report on the 2004 growing season. The report states that Montanans can
expect another year of the ongoing drought that began in the summer of
1999. The committee meets again Thursday, May 20 at the Department of
Environmental Quality at 9:30 AM.
"Despite the fact that many parts of Montana have been receiving much
needed moisture recently, this drought continues to weaken our state," said
Governor Judy Martz. "This drought is more than an agricultural or mere
weather event, it is a deepening socio-economic drought. It threatens to
change the very fabric of Montana's rural communities and landscape. Not
only are ranches and farms on the auction block but many of the
well-established businesses are disappearing as well."
The Montana Governor's Drought Advisory Committee reports that the
potential for continued drought in 2004 for Montana is Very High. The committee expects significant impacts to continue for groundwater and surface water uses including irrigated farming municipal water applications, wildfire fighting on range and forest lands, and fisheries.
"Despite the fact that every county in Montana is under a drought
declaration, livestock producers have been unable to restock operations
since wholesale liquidation occurred in 2001 & 2002," said Lt. Governor
Karl Ohs, the chair of the committee. "Last year's spring wheat crop was almost atotal loss. Unseasonably warm temperatures in March melted mountain
snowpack early, and runoff remains meager as water users scramble to capture what they can for dry pasture and hayfields."
The report also states that at least two years of normal precipitation and
cool temperatures are necessary for Montana to recover from the drought.
The cumulative effects of five years of drought persist in low reservoir
levels, stressed grazing lands, reduced groundwater levels, low streamflow
forecasts, and poor sub-soil moisture, nearly statewide.
The Drought Advisory Committee meets monthly and works with state and
federal partners to locate every form of assistance relief for farmers and
ranchers. County officials are encouraged to convene local drought
committees to explore avenues of relief with USDA county offices. The
committee also asks every Montanan to take every possible precaution to
conserve water throughout this dry summer.
The entire report is posted at
http://www.nris.state.mt.us/drought/gov04rpt.pdf
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Kris Goss
Education Policy Advisor and Deputy Communications Director
Office of the Governor
State Capitol
Helena, MT 59620
(406) 444-3862
kgoss@state.mt.us
