Gazette Opinion: Conservation key ally in drought fight
Since it was formed by the Montana Legislature in 1991, the Governor's Drought Advisory Committee has been meeting regularly to share information and discuss the implications of drought on the state's natural resources and economy… (more)
Now's time to act on drought
Independent Record Staff
September 20, 2007
It's hard to think about our lingering drought when all it did was pour rain Tuesday night. Yet that's what the Governor's Drought Advisory Committee met Wednesday to discuss. With a refreshingly cool breeze blowing through the Helena Valley and more than a tinge of fall in the air, the committee hammered out a consensus that an aggressive approach must be taken to mitigate the progressively warmer temperatures Montana is experiencing and the impact of the ongoing drought…
Bohlinger pushes for drought plan
Lieutenant governor urges all Montanans to be conservationists
By JENNIFER McKEE
Billings Gazette
HELENA – With severe drought gripping large swaths of Montana, Lt. Gov. John Bohlinger said Wednesday that he'd like to see a statewide conservation plan to help farmers, ranchers… (more)
Precious drops of water
By PHILIP S. WENZ
Independent Record
August 21, 2007
Droughts used to come and go, but the drought currently desiccating the western states might settle in for a generation or more. In the opinion of some climate scientists, this drought is at least partly caused by global climate change with its record temperatures… (more)
Big Hole, Jeff rivers to close
By Nick Gevock
The Montana Standard
August 16, 2007
Low stream flows have prompted the state to shut down all fishing on the Big Hole and Jefferson rivers starting Friday. Officials with the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks announced the closures Wednesday, citing the low flows in both streams that have fallen below thresholds established in each river's drought management plan.… (more)
Conserving water: Alternatives to bluegrass make sense in Treasure Valley
Native grasses adapted to arid climate not only save thousands of gallons of water a year, they take less maintenance
By Cynthia Sewell
Idaho Statesman
June 25, 2007
Jennifer Miller's East Boise yard looked a lot like her neighbors' yards — lush turf watered with an automatic sprinkler system. It was the all-American yard. So her neighbors gave her curious looks when she ripped out her front lawn and replaced it with native grass and a variety of plants and shrubs. She took out her sprinkler system, too, because Miller's new yard rarely needs to be watered… (more)
Drought/Disaster Assistance
On December 5, on the Senate floor, Senator Kent Conrad (D-ND) unsuccessfully sought an amendment to the Agriculture appropriations bill adding $4.8B in emergency funding for drought, flood and fire relief to farmers and ranchers… (more)
National Integrated Drought Information System
Also on December 6, the Senate passed H.R. 5136, approved by the House on September 26, without amendment by unanimous consent, clearing the bill for the President… (more)
Models predict 'wild ride' of extreme weather
Greenhouse gases fueling the trend, federally funded study says
MSNBC staff and news service reports
October 20, 2006
WASHINGTON - The world — especially the Western United States, the Mediterranean region and Brazil — will likely suffer more extended droughts, heavy rainfalls and longer heat waves over the next century because of global warming, a new study forecasts. (More...)
Drought cuts energy production
MINOT, N.D. — Drought will cut electric power generation at Missouri River dams this year by nearly 40 percent, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers says.
Jody Farhat, the corps' power production team leader, said the trend will likely continue through 2007. (More...)
Western Americans cope with life running dry
Fake grass, no-watering rules — such is life in the drought-plagued West
MSNBC
Associated Press
October 20, 2006
Life in the West is full of changes people hardly even notice anymore – watering schedules, desert landscaping and limits on how often you can wash your car in the driveway. It's a sign of arid times in the West. (More...)
Worldwide shortages putting high price tag on state's wheat crop
By JO DEE BLACK
Great Falls Tribune
October 13, 2006
Worldwide shortfalls in the 2006 wheat crop are pushing prices to record levels, and Montana farmers with crops in the bin are smiling.
"This is next-year country, and for some of us this is next year," said Leonard Stone, a Geraldine grain farmer. (More...)
Drought takes psychological, financial toll on farm families
By The Associated Press
The Billings Gazete
October 08, 2006
WICHITA, Kan – Charlie Griffin gets two or three calls daily from farmers struggling with bills they cannot pay.
"Often the first thing out of someone's mouth is, 'I don't know where to turn," said Griffin, director of the Kansas Rural Family Help Line. (More…)
