Drought and Low Flows

Summer 2017 is shaping up to be another drought year throughout Montana. Hot, dry conditions take a serious toll on our farms, our forests, and our watersheds, increasing Wildfires and Wildfire Smoke, and affecting our Mental Health. Low flows are super hard on fish and the many (humans and non-humans alike) who rely on our rivers and streams. For more info, click on the buttons above or scroll down.

Dealing with Drought

It's easier to talk about being "Summer Smart" when it comes to coping with wildfire smoke and heat, but what about drought?

There are things we can all do to preserve and protect our precious water resources and to cope with more intense and sustained dry conditions. Here are some things we can do as a community to protect our watersheds:

Use less water around our homes and businesses. (One caveat - let your lawn turn brown, but be sure to water your shade trees! Our urban forest provides so many other climate benefits.)
Support agriculture that uses water wisely. Ask your local farmer when and how they water their crops! Ask your local grocer about the farmers they buy from.
Support organizations working to keep water in our streams - for all the critters, plants, and people that depend on these ribbons of life. The Clark Fork Coalition and Montana Trout Unlimited both are working to preserve and protect our local watersheds and the wildlife that depend on them.
Help turn the trajectory of climate change. Support Climate Smart Missoula or myriad other worthy efforts across the globe.

Drought is just one aspect of the water-climate connection. We talked about being Water Smart at our August 2017 Meet-Up at Imagine Nation Brewing. Check out Hailey's blog on the conversation, which included Missoula's recent acquisition of Mountain Water and how water impacts energy and climate.

Current Drought Conditions
You can probably tell - we love maps! Click below for a snapshot of current statewide drought conditions.

So what does drought look like for our rivers?
Another great map from the USGS shows below normal 7-day average streamflow compared to historical streamflow:

The Latest Water News - Summer 2017

The Upper Clark Fork River at 2.6 CFS in early August. Clark Fork Coalition Photo

The Billings Gazette recently reported that 12% of our state is in the midst of an extreme, 100-year drought.
Closer to home, the Bitterroot, Upper Clark Fork, and Silver Bow Creek all are under "hoot owl" fishing restrictions.
Senator John Tester has set up an online portal to help Montanans suffering financial losses due to drought and wildfires.

More Water Resources

To see what our streamflows look like, go to the State of Montana's Drought and Water Streamflow website.
Of course we have an entire BUCKET dedicated to water conservation and protection.
Check out what the Clark Fork Coalition is up to.
Visit Montana Trout Unlimited to learn about and support all the good work they are doing to keep fish alive and water in our streams.
A few years ago Amy and Jill worked with film-maker Patrick Record to make this Missoula movie - we hope to update this now that the City of Missoula owns our water system. Check out The Hidden Life of Water.
Also check out this great article from the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, Energy-Water Nexus Issues Heighten in the Face of Climate Change.