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Managing Water Stored For The Environment During Drought, Sarah Null, Jeffrey Mount, Brian Gray, Michael Dettinger, Kristen Dybala, Gokce Sencan, Anna Sturrock, Barton Thompson, Harrison Zeff

Watershed Sciences Faculty Publications

Storing water in reservoirs is important for maintaining freshwater ecosystem health and protecting native species. Stored water also is essential for adapting to the changing climate, especially warming and drought intensification. Yet, reservoir operators often treat environmental objectives as a constraint, rather than as a priority akin to water deliveries for cities and farms. Reservoir management becomes especially challenging during severe droughts when surface water supplies are scarce, and urban and agricultural demands conflict with water supplies needed to maintain healthy waterways and wetlands. In times of drought, most freshwater ecosystems suffer.

This blog post examines 2021 water year actions …

Evaluating Alternative Feed Sources During Drought, Matthew D. Garcia, Ruger P. Carter, Ryan Larsen, Eric Thacker, Jacob Hadfield, Reganne K. Briggs, Justen Smith

All Current Publications

During years of drought, it is important to critically evaluate alternative feed sources available for cattle. The traditional method for sustaining a herd through a drought is feeding extra stored forage to compensate for decreased forage production or decreased forage quality available on rangelands and pastures due to drought conditions. However, hay prices rise substantially, and availability decreases due to irrigation water limitations and increased demand from livestock producers. This fact sheet will evaluate why hay prices rise and what alternatives are available to compensate for forage reductions during drought.

Drought-Tolerant Options For Southwest Agriculture: Edible Produce, Emily Rice, Kynda R. Curtis

All Current Publications

The arid Southwest has been heavily impacted by drought and climate change. The Southwest states are some of the driest in the nation. From 2000 to 2020, 65% of the state of Utah experienced abnormally dry conditions, 78% of Arizona, 69% of New Mexico, and 71% of Nevada. Drought can damage pastures and crops, leading to economic losses in agriculture. Sustaining agricultural production (crops, food, livestock) on tribal lands will become progressively more challenging in the future due to decreased water availability, extended droughts, and changes in precipitation quantities and timing. This fact sheet is the second in a series …

Splitting The Difference: Heterogeneous Soil Moisture Availability Affects Aboveground And Belowground Reserve And Mass Allocation In Trembling Aspen, Ashley T. Hart, Morgane Merlin, Erin Wiley, Simon M. Landhäusser

Aspen Bibliography

When exploring the impact of resource availability on perennial plants, artificial treatments often apply conditions homogeneously across space and time, even though this rarely reflects conditions in natural systems. To investigate the effects of spatially heterogeneous soil moisture on morphological and physiological responses, trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides) saplings were used in a split-pot experiment. Following the division of the root systems, saplings were established for a full year and then subjected to either heterogeneous (portion of the root system exposed to non-lethal drought) or homogeneous (whole root system exposed to non-lethal drought or well-watered) treatments. Above- and belowground …

Utah Livestock Producer Preferred Drought Management Strategies, Kynda R. Curtis, Tatiana Drugova, Ruby Ward

All Current Publications

This fact sheet, the second in a series of three, examines livestock producer preferred drought management strategies and how producer preferences change depending on drought severity and expected grazing efficiency. Severe drought in livestock production leads to decreases in feed availability, range or hay quality, and overall lower quality beef (Holupchinski et al., n.d.). Hence, drought increases production costs and producer dependence on imported feed. Thus, extended drought poses a threat to agricultural productivity and the economies of rural and tribal areas in Utah.

Utah Hay And Forage Grower Preferred Drought Management Strategies, Kynda R. Curtis, Tatiana Drugova, Ruby Ward

All Current Publications

This fact sheet, the third in a series of three, examines the preferred drought management strategies of hay and forage growers and how their preferences change depending on drought severity and expected yields. Severe drought in forage production causes crop damage and losses leading to decreases in yield and profitability for growers (Yost et al., 2019). Water shortages are also common, with restrictions on use commonly imposed, especially in the late summer months. Hence, extended drought poses a threat to agricultural productivity and the economies of rural and tribal areas in Utah.

Utah Fresh Produce Grower Preferred Drought Management Strategies, Kynda R. Curtis, Tatiana Drugova, Ruby Ward

All Current Publications

This fact sheet, the first in a series of three, examines the preferred drought management strategies of fresh produce growers and how their preferences change depending on drought severity and expected yields. Severe drought in fresh produce production causes stunted growth resulting in smaller, lower quality produce, as well as increased vulnerability to pests, all of which result in large economic losses (Holupchinski et al., n.d.). Water shortages are also common, with restrictions on use commonly imposed, especially in the late summer months. Hence, extended drought poses a threat to agricultural productivity and the economies of rural and tribal areas …

Effects Of Thinning On Dynamics And Drought Resistance Of Aspen-White Spruce Mixtures: Results From Two Study Sites In Saskatchewan, Philip G. Comeau

Aspen Bibliography

Drought stress associated with warm temperatures is causing increased mortality and reduced growth of trees in drier portions of the boreal forests of western Canada with both warming and drought expected to increase over the coming decades. While thinning is often shown to reduce drought stress, there is little information on its effects in stands comprised of mixtures of trembling aspen and white spruce that are common in the forests of this region. This study examined effects of pre-commercial thinning on aspen and spruce growth, response to drought stress, and stand dynamics for two study sites located in Saskatchewan, Canada. …

Impacts Of Drought On Tribal Economies In New Mexico, Tatiana Drugova, Kynda R. Curtis, Man-Keun Kim

All Current Publications

Sustaining agricultural production on tribal lands will become progressively more challenging in the future due to decreased water availability, extended droughts, and changes in precipitation amounts and timing. This fact sheet will illustrate the potential economic impacts of drought on agriculture and reservation economies in New Mexico. New Mexico is the fifth driest state in the United States, with average yearly precipitation of 13.38 inches, and 69% of the state experienced abnormally dry conditions over the past two decades. The results discussed here cover six reservations located in New Mexico, including Acoma Pueblo, Jicarilla Apache Nation, Laguna Pueblo, Mescalero Apache …

Impacts Of Drought On Tribal Economies In Arizona, Tatiana Drugova, Kynda R. Curtis, Man-Keun Kim

All Current Publications

Sustaining agricultural production on tribal lands will become progressively more challenging in the future due to decreased water availability, extended droughts, and changes in precipitation amounts and timing. The objective of this fact sheet is to illustrate the economic impacts of drought on agriculture and reservation economies in Arizona. Arizona is the fourth driest state in the United States, with average yearly precipitation of 11.24 inches, and 78% of the state experienced abnormally dry conditions over the past 20 years. The results discussed here cover five reservations located in Arizona, including the Hopi Tribe, Navajo Nation, San Carlos Apache Tribe, …

Impacts Of Drought On Tribal Economies In Nevada, Tatiana Drugova, Kynda R. Curtis, Man-Keun Kim

All Current Publications

Sustaining agricultural production (e.g., crops, food, livestock) on tribal lands will become progressively more challenging in the future due to decreased water availability, extended droughts, and changes in precipitation amounts and timing. The objective of this fact sheet is to illustrate the economic impacts of drought on agriculture and reservation economies in Nevada.

Economic Impacts Of Drought In Utah: Uintah And Ouray Reservation, Tatiana Drugova, Kynda R. Curtis, Man-Keun Kim

All Current Publications

Sustaining agricultural production on tribal lands will become progressively more challenging in the future due to decreased water availability, extended droughts, and changes in precipitation amounts and timing. The objective of this fact sheet is to illustrate the economic impacts of drought on agriculture and the economy of the Uintah and Ouray Reservation in Utah.