Board of Supervisors’ Update of Current Drought Conditions June 22, 2006 Compiled by: Michael Fisher – ANR Extension Agent Ashley Noce - ANR Extension Intern

Input From Farming Community First cutting hay production reduced –Farmer “guestimates” range from 15 to 60% reduction –Most claim 25 to 35% reduction –Many farmers do not expect to get a second cutting Grass re-growth limited –Neither pastures nor hay are re-vegetating well Springs & wells reduced or dry –USDA office receiving water assistance requests Feeding livestock –Several farmers started haying cattle in past two weeks –Best grazing estimate that I have heard this week is 30 to 40 days of grass left (This is from a dairy specializing in grazing management.)

Excerpts from State & Federal Reports Pulaski D0 on the edge of D1 for both an agricultural drought & a hydrological drought –US Drought Monitor – June 22, 2006 YTD statewide precipitation only 68% of normal –Drought Monitoring Task Force – Drought Status Report – June 19, 2006 Due to accumulated shortfalls, precipitation for June & July would have to in at least the 90 th percentile to prevent continuation of an agricultural drought. –State Climatologist Report – May 19, 2006

Source: National Weather Service – Climate Data Accessed 6/22/06

River Discharge Information Past 31 Days As of 6/22/06

Streamflow Gage Percentiles Representative Streamflows Above 25% - Normal Representative Streamflows Between 10 th & 25 th - Drought Watch Representative Streamflows Between 5 th & 10 th - Drought Warning Representative Streamflows Below 5th – Drought Emergency

Reed Creek - Grahams Forge, VA Reed Creek Percentile: 4% Discharge: 72 cfs Average: 135 cfs Class: Maroon As of 6/22/06 Record Low: 70 cfs Reed Creek is the drought indication gage for the New River Drought Evaluation Region.

New River - Ivanhoe, VA Percentile: 19% Discharge: 924 cfs Average: 1460 cfs Class: Orange As of 6/22/06 Record Low: 635 cfs

New River - Allisonia, VA Percentile: 11% Discharge: 1130 cfs Average: 2250 cfs Class: Orange As of 6/22/06 Record Low: 698 cfs

New River - Radford, VA Percentile: 7% Discharge: 1110 cfs Average: 2890 cfs Class: Maroon As of 6/22/06 Record Low: 992 cfs

Little River - Graysontown, VA Little River Percentile: 10% Discharge: 126 cfs Average: 257 cfs Class: Orange As of 6/22/06 Record Low: 93 cfs