MoDNR Topics
Missouri Drought Assessment Committee
Drought Assessment Committee Meeting - Jan. 13, 2004
Attendees:
JoAn Dent, Daniel Atkins, Bob Bailey, Everett Baker, Shane Barks, NaomiBoss, Deana Cash, Kerry Cordray, Wayne Custer, Chad Davis, Harold Deckerd, Joe Engeln, Eddie Gibbons, Rhonda Gray, Pat Guinan, Bruce Hensely, James Howard, Mike Keith, Peggy Kent, Jud Kneuvean, Vicky Kugler, Lance Lains, A. Lawson, EdMaulsley, Charles May, Chris May, Steve McIntosh, Brian Paulsen, Kristi Perrin, Darl Salisbury, Cary Sayre, Ellis Shipley, Jeff Staake, Sullivan Stuart, Don Summer, Brian Todd, Lowell Tucker, Mike Ward, Jim Weidinger, Bobby Williams, Todd Williams, Daniel Wilson and Gary Wilson
Agencies and Companies Represented:
AllState Consultants, Milan Standard, North Central Missouri Electric Cooperative, Green Hills Regional Planning Commission, Premium Standard Farms, Trenton Municipal Utilities, Sullivan County PWSD #1, Sullivan County PWSD-North Missouri Water Lake, Sullivan County Commission, the cities of Milan, Green City and Unionville, Congressman Grave's office, University of Missouri-Columbia and University Extension, along with the State Emergency Management Agency, the U.S. Departments Agriculture (Rural Development and NRCS), Geological Survey and Army Corps of Engineers and the Missouri Departments of Conservation, Economic Development, and Natural Resources.
Welcome - Chris May, Presiding Commissioner
Introductions DAC Chairman Jeff Staake, Department of Natural Resources
Climate and Data Committee Report:
Pat Guinan, UMC, Commercial Agriculture Extension Program
U.S. Drought Monitor - explained drought in Northwest Missouri for over 2 years
Monthly Precipitation by County - above normal conditions for Northwest Missouri, December 2003, One month
Monthly Average Precipitation for Columbia (1971-2000)
Percent of Normal Precipitation - not a lot of snow influences the river flow, 12/10/2003 - 1/8/2004, One month
Percent of Normal Precipitation - Northwest Missouri driest compared to Midwest, 1/9/2002 - 1/8/2004, Two year
Missouri County Precipitation Departure from Normal from December 2002 to November 2003, Two year
Regional Accumulated Daily Precipitation, Northwest Missouri dry pocket
Objective Short-Term Drought Indicator Blend Percentiles
Objective Long-Term Drought Indicator Blend Percentiles
Current Soil Moisture Deviation, Northwest Missouri sticks out
Crop Moisture Index by Division
Drought Severity Index by Division, Long Term Palmer
USGS Grand River near Gallatin, MO 7/2002 - 1/2004, 1 ½ years
USGS Little Platte River at Smithville, MO 1/2003 - 1/2004, One year
For extended outlook on precipitation look at website - Climate Prediction Center -Click on Outlooks
Impact Team Reports
Public Drinking Water Impact Team
Ms. Deana Cash Public Drinking Water Program, MoDNR
During the last 52 weeks, we have been calling water systems to get reservoir levels, sevensystems in the Kansas City Region are a concern and we continue to monitor low lake levels, looking at long term alternatives. General discussion about some of the problems with these systems.
Drexel's reservoir is down 65 inches. They have a connection to Cass and Bates PWSD#12 but the connection is not large enough to supply all ther needs.
Harrison County PWSD #1 experiencing lake drops and was down 39" in July and currently down 95" inches. They have a connection to Harrison County PWSD #12 that may be able to supply their needs for a short duration. They've taken a look at connecting to Iowa, but this may not be feasible and there would be a large connection fee involved.
Harrisonville Lake is down 70 inches. They have a lot of water in the lake; however if the drought continues into the summer, they might have a problem. There is a long term potential for connecting to Kansas City.
Jamesport has seen improvement in lake levels. They were 60 inches down in December and currently 25 inches down. They are looking at connecting with another system and have talked with Grundy #1 and Livingston #4.
King City can obtain some additional relief from the Missouri Department Conservation's Lake Limpe. Their main lake was down 65" in July and now is down by 111". This is one system we are very concerned with due to the lack of additional source available.
Maryville's lake is down but they still have a lot of water in the lake. The lakes were down 55" in July and currently down 85", first time drought for this new lake.
Middle Fork Water Company was down 60" in July and is now down 138" and continues to decrease, big concern here, looking at groundwater to supplement.
In the Northeast Region, Milan still pumping from Locust Creek, currently down 7 ½ feet when they were down earlier at 11 feet so there has been some improvement. The Golf Course - City Reservoir is down 9 ½ feet.
Milan officials were urged to continue pumping and proceed with the permanent intake in Locust Creek. Brookfield Lake is down 6 ½ feet, which is a slight improvement from October when it was down over 7 feet. They are pumping from Yellow Creek although they can't pump much; however, it continues to help. Brookfield was urged to continue pumping from Yellow Creek, whenever possible, until lake is full.
Princeton got grant provided by USDA Rural Development for new well. We have not received plans and specifications at this time.
Linn County PSWD#1 is trying to find another well site but they have drilled at least 29test holes in the past and are trying to decide if it is feasible to spend more money on additional drilling.
A new problem is being caused by systems drawing from Missouri River. Glascow currently 5 feet projected to hit low. Design is 4 feet, hard time to pump, stresses pumps, has increased running time to 24 hours, typically 9-10 hours. They do have emergency pumps available to install if their intake pumps can no longer pump, but they would have to install these pumps.
Lexington is in the same situation. The Kansas City Plant Manager claimed December 20th was last Missouri record low, with another record low last week.
Discussed problems with ice in rivers and alternatives the Corp of Engineers can offer. Information can be found on the Corp of Engineers website.
The Dept of Natural Resources' Water Resources Program Groundwater Section in Rolla, Missouri will give advice to help find groundwater for well drilling in specific areas. Their telephone number is 573/ 368-2190.
Agriculture Impact Team
(absent) Ms. Judy Grundler, Missouri Department of Agriculture
Natural Resource Events
Missouri Department of Conservation had to stop pumping for wetlands on Chariton River because pumping upstream in Iowa was taking too much out of the system before reaching Missouri. Pumping was suspended during the fall months for that reason. It is dry in the Ozarks and relying on groundwater for trout production. Trout production will be lower than normal for 2004 season.
Drought Status Discussion and Approval
Mr. Steve McIntosh, Water Resources Program, Missouri Dept of Natural Resources
Seasonal outlook with the Rockies showing some improvement with persistence in Nebraska, South Dakota and Kansas. Some improvement is likely in Missouri. Outlook for January, February and March continuing less than normal. Drought condition status meeting show problems in Southeast Missouri although several counties had a lot of rainfall. Northwest Missouri has record now with Sullivan and Linn counties having improved. Mr. McIntosh explained the phases as Neutral means no drought, Phase I is the Advisory Phase which means Palmer indices -1 to -2 below normal, Phase II is the Drought Alert Phase which means a Palmer Drought Index of -2 or greater soil moisture dropping 6 months or longer and Phase III is the Conservation Phase which means a PDI of -3 or greater and dropping 6 months or longer.
Phase IV is called the Emergency Phase which would be like the drought during the mid-1950's where ponds and streams went dry, and there were NO pumping opportunities. This Phase not been declared since adoption of the Missouri Drought Response Plan in 1995.
Don Summers commented that he hopes before we realize we can obtain a lake, that the need for a pump station of Locust Creek continues. We must stabilize current situation.
Todd Williams commented that a lot of farmers would need a lot of courage to plant with no precipitation in the future. Mr. Guinan said they have seen some recovery, top 12" of soil are in good shape and believes it will be alright to get started, but we would need rain or it will dry out quickly. Mr. Williams said last year they made it through because of subsoil moisture but now they don't even have that. Response was that hopefully by May we will get the rain we need to keep going.
Conclude map as amended by Dr. Engeln of Missouri Dept of Natural Resources.
Elmwood Reservoir Predictive Model - Steve McIntosh, Water Resources Program, Missouri Dept of Natural Resources
We have been doing drought mitigation in 1990 model with Elmwood Reservoir and City Lake along with an additional 25 to 30 systems across the state. Elmwood is an underwater survey; GPS and Sonar are used to make the lake bathymetry maps. Then the Water Resources Program (WRP) uses the RESOP model to simulate water budgets. Wealso use the Milan models and adjusted them to see what will happen for Milan with weather patterns from 1987 - 1989 droughts. Model based on 1988 information. January, February and March would be fairly wet but the rainfall was below normal. The1988 are the scenario we used and we pumped when sufficient flow was present from Locust Creek.
Mr. Guinan commented that the decade we are in now would not be wetter than the 1990's.
City representatives stated that there are times they can't pump from Locust Creek and are using Lake Thunderhead as an alternative source of pumping. It has helped with soil moisture but there are not sufficient sources to keep up for the future. Discussed options of purchasing water but with two back-to-back droughts there is a need for a long-term sustainable water supply for this area. Discussion regarding WHEN there is water available to pump, then we need to work on filling the lake.
Discussed charts. Mr. Hensley asked if capacity of pumping is allowing for Rural Water and the new Premier Foods plant getting ready to open, wants to make sure figures are there to use in the equations. Mr. Staake stated they appreciate the input on all this and gives offer to discuss presentations. He stated that if information isn't helpful they need feedback so the data can be useful to them. Mr. McIntosh will revise the simulation with an increase to a 1.5 MGD demand and will post it on the Internet.
These updates will be available at our Web site (/env/wrc/droughtupdate.htm) or call 800-361-4827.
Next Meeting - The next DAC meeting is scheduled for February 20, 2004 at 10 a.m. in the Katy Trail Conference Room 1738 E. Elm Street, Jefferson City, Missouri.
Mr. McIntosh announced that minutes of the meetings would be posted on the Website.
