Drought returns to northwest Iowa, raising concerns for Buena Vista County

Storm Lake kept its mandatory water conservation rules in place until further notice as northwest Iowa slipped back into drought, and Buena Vista County entered the second half of summer already 2.56 inches below normal for January through June.

That shortfall matters first for farm families, rural water users and city residents in Storm Lake, Alta, Newell, Lakeside, Truesdale and the Lake Creek housing area. The City of Storm Lake imposed the restrictions after two wells went out of service and demand stayed near the capacity of the city’s water treatment plant. The rules bar lawn watering from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., residential vehicle washing from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., cleaning driveways and sidewalks with water during the restricted period, and power washing homes, buildings or concrete during those hours.

The latest U.S. Drought Monitor map for Iowa, valid July 21 and released July 23, put 22.56 percent of the state in abnormally dry conditions and 2.20 percent in moderate drought, up from 19.25 percent and 2.22 percent the previous week. In northwest Iowa, that means the entire KICD broadcast area is back in drought, a reversal from the spring when heavy rain had briefly erased much of the dryness.

On April 9, widespread rainfall totals of 2 to 5 inches produced broad drought improvement across Iowa. On July 9, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources said drought had expanded in northern and western Iowa even as eastern Iowa returned to normal conditions, leaving Buena Vista County on the dry side of the state map at a time when corn and soybeans are still in a critical growth period.

Buena Vista County was the 21st driest year to date over the past 132 years. Dry grass along roadsides, stressed pastures and tighter municipal water use are already visible, along with a higher fire risk on rural properties and around harvested fields.