1. Roundtable Discussion Drought History and Impacts to the Big Sky area

2. Southwestern MT Drought History
PDSI
-Measurement of dryness based on precipitation and temperature
-Southwestern MT in severe or extreme drought % of the time since 1895
-Significance: only southwestern WY and south central CO are more susceptible to drought conditions in US
Source: Bozeman Drought Management Plan pg 9

3. Upper Missouri Basin: Snowpack History over 600 yrs yearyears
“Prolonged and severe drought in the area is chronic”
Bozeman Drought Management Plan (p10)

4. Southwestern Montana Palmer Drought Severity Index: 1900-2010
1970s-Present: focus period of drought impact information in Big Sky
Source: NOAA Climate At A Glance

5. Common Impacts from Drought
Reduced snowpack levels
Reduced water supplies- increased rates or need to find new sources
Reduction in crop yields
Low streamflows
Poor water quality
Fishing restrictions
Loss of viable habitat
Reduced quality of recreational opportunities
Increased erosion
Public health risks from dust exposure
Increase in wildfire duration, area burned, and intensity
Early resort closures
Poor soil quality
Property damage from wildfires
Tourism/recreation job losses
Stress on fisheries and wildlife
Source: National Drought Mitigation Center: Checklist of Historic, Potential, and Current Drought Impacts

6. Drought Impacts: Drought Awareness Survey Question
47 respondents from Big Sky community

7. Teasing out the years
Years of moderate to extreme dry conditions -Moderate: Governor's Drought Advisory Committee issues Drought Alert to encourage local committees to convene
-Extreme: Local committees implement responses to severe dry conditions, recommendations in MT Drought Plan
Source: MT County Drought Status Maps

8. By the Decades: 70s
Southwestern Montana Palmer Drought Severity Index 1970s
Gallatin & Madison Counties
1974: Moderate to extreme drought conditions persisted from July-December
1977: Both counties experienced moderate drought in April
1979: Moderate to extreme drought conditions persisted from September-December
Source: US Drought Monitor

9. By the Decades: 80s
Southwestern Montana Palmer Drought Severity Index 1980s
Gallatin & Madison counties
1980: Moderate to extreme drought persisted through April
1981 (Right half of Gallatin county): Moderate to extreme drought in March & April
: moderate to extreme drought throughout SW Montana
Source: US Drought Monitor

10. By the Decades: 90s
One of the wettest decades, fewer instances of drought conditions (US Drought Monitor)
Gallatin & Madison Counties:
1991: January-March moves from moderate to extreme drought conditions
1992: Right side of Gallatin County reaches moderate drought conditions in March, conditions persist in both counties through May
1994: Moderate drought conditions in September
1999: Moderate drought conditions from November-December
Southwestern Montana Palmer Drought Severity Index 1990s

11. 2000-Present
Southwestern Montana Palmer Drought Severity Index 2000-Present
2002: Entire state in continuous drought conditions
Gallatin & Madison Counties:
Frequent periods of moderate to severe drought conditions experienced in:
, , and 2015
Source:
MT County Drought Status Maps

12. Drought Impact Reports: 2000-2017