MoDNR Topics
Missouri Drought Assessment Committee
Drought Assessment Committee Meeting - May 20, 2003
Attendees:
Adnan Akyuz, Clif Baumer, Deana Cash, Sherry Chen, Mubarak Hamed, Charles Hays, Tony Hoover, Mike Keith, Steve McIntosh, Bob Miller, Brian Paulson Marlowe Schlegel, Jeff Staake, Bob Steiert and Lloyd Waite
Agencies and Companies Represented:
Missouri Department of Agriculture, Missouri Department of Conservation, Missouri Department of Natural Resources, U.S. Department of Agriculture (NASS), US Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Geological Survey, University of Missouri-Columbia and Premium Standard Farms
Welcome and Introductions:
Jeff Staake, Missouri Department of Natural Resources
Current Conditions and Outlook:
Adnan Akyuz discussed packet inserts and overhead slides including the following:
Statewide Precipitation Rankings - Adnan commented that the number of tornadoes endured so far during 2003 are almost as much as the record number from 1952.
Precipitation by Climate Division in Last 30 days, 90 days and 12 months
Soil Moisture Deviation (Surface to 12 inches and 72 inches)
Drought Severity Index by Division as of May 17, 2003
Objective Short-term Drought Indicator Blend Percentiles as of 5/17/03
Objective Long-term Drought Indicator Blend Percentiles as of 5/17/03 - Adnan commented that difference in long-term and short-term is not necessarily in same terms of time; that it goes in 6-, 12-, or 24-months and up to 60 month index. National Weather Service's Climate Prediction Center came up with the new short-term and long-term drought indicator - Palmer index is just one component going into this new index.
USGS Daily Streamflow as of 5/19/03 - Macon County location on Chariton River is only location that shows up as a record daily low.
Grand River near Gallatin - 90 day Streamflow chart
Thompson River at Trenton - 90 day streamflow chart
Coffey Depth to water 90-day period - large daily variations due to pumping but does not show a steady decline in water level within last 90 days
US Drought Monitor 5/13/03
US Seasonal Drought Outlook through 8/03 shows drought likely to improve in the far northwestern corner of Missouri
Impact Team Reports:
Agriculture – Tony Hoover
Planting season is looking pretty good. We are about a week behind from what we were last year.
State average - 81% of the Corn is planted, 19% of Soybeans and 48% of Cotton.
Areas in southeast have reported flooding. Wet fields last week and some areas this week have hindered fieldwork for most of the state.
Pasture conditions are 28% fair, 53% good and 12% excellent.
There is plenty of moisture available to cause excellent grass and plant growth.
Some concerns would include:
· reports of flooding in southeast
· damaging hail and winds occurred in various areas throughout state. This could have an impact on mature wheat and sprouting corn
· ponds are still several feet below normal in northwest Missouri
· soil moisture problems still remain below 12-inch level - many crops last year survived the drought because of the available soil moisture.
Mr. Staake questioned whether there might be any coverage or relief for damaged crops due to recent severe weather.
Mr. Hoover said that is unknown at this moment, but recommends that people call their local FSA office for detailed information in their area and that more information will be available closer to production time.
Mr. Schlegel commented that they do have damage reports coming in at the various county offices, but it is a generic form they are to complete. Damage could be from flooding, hail, winds, etc. Cotton is a concern, because they are way behind in getting planting done. This wet spring is not good for wheat. Wet weather promotes disease in wheat, in addition to some damage on wheat by hail and winds. Mature wheat will not recover when the tops are knocked off.
Natural Resources/Environment – Bob Miller
Fire danger has been reduced. Northwest Missouri is still on watch at the moment.
Hatchery water supplies are in pretty good shape. Putnam and Mercer still have a lack of water.
FandWS refuge system. Squaw Creek did not have viewing days last fall because they did not have wetlands to hold the bird and geese. They are taking advantage of low water there to fix those things that need attention.
Swan Lake in Chariton County is in good shape and not expecting any problems unless drought worsens. The boat ramp at Mozingo was extended so they could continue to use it during low levels this year.
Concerning possible future release of conservation reserve program lands for haying and grazing. Mr. Miller commented that July 15 is the estimated target date for Missouri's CRP release. Recent studies show that the majority of quail that are in the study for nesting have a last hatch date of July 25.
Steve McIntosh reported a fish kill at Lake Contrary near St. Joseph due to low water oxygen that may have been aggravated due to low water of the drought conditions in NW Missouri.
Public Drinking Water Impacts – Deana Cash
Experiencing lots of rain, but not a lot of runoff.
Some lakes have seen improvement but most water supply lakes in the Northwestern part of the state are still several feet down.
Cameron did get some relief. Although, they could still face problems during summer due to high demand.
Creighton, Garden City, Harrisonville and Middlefork did not see significant runoff into their lakes.
Trying to meet with Creighton and Cass County in order to connect to Cass County on a long-term basis. Cass County PWSD has a storage tank located near Creighton's water system.
Ms. Cash said nearly all reservoirs levels in the north and northeastern part of the state have come up with the exception of Brookfield and Milan. Milan has seen no improvement with 13.5 feet low on Golf Course Lake and 6.5 feet low on Elmwood Reservoir. They need to pump from Locust Creek to sustain their water needs and to compensate for evaporation.
Mike Keith with Premium Standard Farms in Milan commented that there were nine inches of rain in the last month and half. Yet Elmwood Lake has only gained 6 inches from runoff due to soils soaking up so much rain.
There was substantial rainfall in northwest Missouri last night, but Trenton only received ¼ inch. Mercer received 1-½ inches and Milan received 3/10 of an inch. During the drought of 1999-2000 PSF remains very concerned about upcoming dry season.
The public drinking water program has worked with Putnam County Rural Water District and are trying to develop alternate plans with the company. City of Milan is working on funding to get the intake installed into Locust Creek to pump into Elmwood Lake Reservoir.
Mr. McIntosh noted that dredge and fill (404) rules have changed with the Corps of Engineers regarding requirements on what to take or put in creeks/rivers. You can take fill out. To place materials or structures in a stream will require a 404 permit review. They could take some of the dirt/rocks out of the creek in order to connect to the river without creating a vortex with the pump.
Stream flows from Locust Creek could be diverted now due to sufficient stream flow but that will not continue into the summer months.
Mr. Staake suggested looking to permit folks in Water Pollution Control and see what permits are required to quickly and feasible install an intake into Locust Creek to pump to Elmwood Reservoir. Lack of resources in the region is a problem for assured water supplies.
Bob Miller questioned the possibility of City of Cameron looking at connecting with anyone.
Ms. Cash says all agreements are in order to connect to Pony Express Reservoir, along with a contracted amount. They are also raising one of their spillways. The long-term preference is an interconnection to Kansas City Water. Pony Express will just be a backup in case of emergency.
On the new nearby Caldwell County Reservoir construction, Mr. Baumer commented that agreement with County/City of Hamilton should be signed sometime within next month.
Drought Status Map - Steve McIntosh
Steve presented the Recommended Drought Condition Status of May 16, 2003.
The committee also reviewed the last two DAC Drought Condition Status Maps.
Soil Moisture, Palmer Drought Index, Long Blend support NW Missouri continuing in a Phase II Drought Alert status. Some SW counties have been modified from a Phase III drought status back to normal.
Nodaway, Holt, and Gentry Counties had seen very little soil moisture
Ms. Cash suggested adding Putnam, Sullivan and Linn into Phase II in order to match the red area on Adnan's index and to allow them a more serious status to quality for "hookup situations."
Mr. Staake proposed that the amended Drought Status Map be passed. All attendees accepted changes.
Discussion and Summary of Main Street Economist brochure from Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City- Jeff Staake
What is it we are not doing to have a mitigation plan?
McIntosh commented that we have some long-term mitigation efforts with our reservoir bathymetry surveys and firm water system yield studies. We have completed over 20 surface water system studies since our last drought of 1999-2000.
Charles Hays - The original drought plan was written to be a response plan. We started moving into the mitigation phase with this second one. Our present mitigation efforts have examined the water supply side, but we also need to look at future water demands. Demands such as in-stream flows for fish and wildlife, water needs for big rivers, additional surface water use, demands, priorities etc.
Creating a Missouri drought mitigation plan would take a fairly major effort on our part. There are several states across the nation that have done this. Drought Mitigation Center in Nebraska has set some guidelines for mitigation planning. All states have discovered that it needs to be tailored to the climactic and unique features of each state. Riparian law and prior appropriation works into this also.
Ms. Cash - Nebraska has created a new law stating that every system that has had problems is required to have detailed plans and include information on backup supplies.
Mr. Hays - One of the major factors for a riparian state is to enact a drought mitigation plan.
Ms. Cash is working on getting wording added to regulations that all systems are required to have a dual source. Some of the funding agencies will not fund dual sources on existing systems.
Mr. Miller pointed out that the City of Branson might be in trouble in ten years if demand continues to increase as it has been.
Mr. Steiert - Design standards should be set up to cover component liabilities in water problems.
Ms. Cash commented that when they apply for a loan or grant, that there are no other funding sources besides the Missouri Department of Natural Resources that loan for creation of future water use, the majority simply look at present demand.
Mr. McIntosh pointed out that our water supply studies have been limited to surface water sources of streams and lakes and that the majority of small water systems rely upon groundwater.
Presiding Commissioner of Grundy County invited the Mr. Staake and the DAC to the Northwest Missouri Commissioners Conference. Mr. McIntosh led a group of DAC members to a meeting in Trenton in April. Most all the commissioners in northwest Missouri attended with about 23 counties represented. It was like a mini-DAC meeting. Commissioners were very interested and seemed to find it educational. This might be good to try again in other parts of the state when needed. We had some pointed questions about Cameron Water Supply and Thompson River and tried to explain that it is difficult to get some people to plan ahead with regard to pumping.
Tony Hoover gave the report on Agriculture. He also commented that the Trenton meeting was excellent and very educational to the 50 attendees and the DAC committee representatives.
Ms. Cash commented that she reported on the City of Cameron drought situation and the current storage and conservation measures. Deana encouraged water suppliers to start pumping from their supplemental stream sources when their lakes are down. Impacts that MDC provide can sometimes be negative.
Mr. Akyuz commented that he has been coming to the DAC meetings since 1999 and at every meeting has heard about the City of Milan. City of Milan needs to be put on a higher vulnerability. There is a very small watershed, with high water use and low supply. Milan's water use is 50 % more than their available water supply.
Mr. McIntosh reported that many other cities such as Hamilton and Eagleville are very vulnerable to even short-term multi-year droughts.
Mr. Akyuz commented that if there is another drought season and the City of Milan is still the main topic, they should get higher priority?
Mr. Steiert commented that City of Milan appears to have chosen not to spend any money and to take it as their responsibility to cover their needs during drought times.
Mr. Keith from Milan commented that they had put in a 12-inch line from Elmwood to Locust Creek and that a substantial amount of investment went into that. You have to look at the infrastructure available. You really only have two months to be able to pump from Locust Creek. They look at the scenario of pumping for two months and then the water evaporates over the next ten months, along with the equipment sitting idle for the remaining 10 months of the year.
Ms. Cash commented that Milan's Elmwood Reservoir does not have same capabilities as it did in the past due to sedimentation. Dredging would not be the most economical solution as it is very expensive vs. the small amount you get out of it. They are facing water quality issues regarding high organic loads, which means more costly water treatment.
Mr. Staake commented that discussion needs to continue regarding Milan and that officials from Milan need to be included regarding possible solutions.
These updates will be available at our Web site (www.dnr.mo.gov/geology/droughtupdate.htm) or call 800-361-4827.
The next DAC meeting will be scheduled in June but may change, hinging on Climate and Weather Committees recommendations.
Mr. McIntosh announced that minutes of the meetings would be posted on the Website.
