Drought is described as a deficiency of precipitation over an extended period of time, usually a season or more, that results in shortages of water. Drought is also a normal, recurrent feature of climate that occurs in most climatic zones. Although these are good technical descriptions, drought is more appropriately defined by its impacts to natural and human environments.
The direct impacts of drought are easily recognizable. Reduced crop, rangeland, and forest productivity; increased fire hazard; reduced water levels; increased livestock and wildlife mortality; and damage to fish and wildlife habitat are just a few. What the general public often overlooks are the indirect economic and social impacts of drought. For those who depend on water and other natural resources for their livelihood, drought can mean the loss of income and jobs.
For the past 5 years, or more, Montana and much of the west, has been in the midst of an extended drought. The effects of this drought period are now being seen. A primary example is the wildfires of 2000 and 2003. While many factors contributed to these large wildfires in western Montana, the lack of moisture associated with drought certainly added to the fire intensity and severity. Continued drought conditions will also slow recovery time for the burned areas.
In addition to creating conditions that increase the chances of wildfires, drought is contributing to a decline in all trout species over the length of the Blackfoot River, according to Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks. The middle Blackfoot River appears to be particularly drought prone with trout densities (specifically fish less than 6 inches in length) approximately 50% lower in 2004 than the pre-drought period. These declines result from low instream flows and rising water temperatures, as well as whirling disease. Drought stressors include dewatering of migration corridors, reduced spawning success, loss of rearing areas, higher predation, and increased competition within the trout community. All of these factors increase stress and reduce the survival of trout.
Like the trout, ranchers, outfitters, and other businesses in the Blackfoot are also feeling the heat. Drought severely limits the amount of water available for crop production and raising livestock. Outfitters and other businesses that depend on visitors to the Blackfoot may have to deal with the consequences of people going elsewhere to fish and pursue other recreational opportunities.
While it is impossible to control the amount of precipitation an area receives, it is important to remember that steps can be taken to reduce the impacts of drought. Since 2000, the Blackfoot Challenge and its partners have sought ways to balance the need for water with the amount available. The Emergency Drought Response Plan is one example of how the issues associated with drought are being dealt with in the Blackfoot. Coordinated by the Blackfoot Drought & Water Conservation Committee, the Emergency Drought Response is a plan in which irrigators, outfitters, and other Blackfoot water users voluntary restrict or change their water use in order to conserve water and reduce impacts during low flows.
In addition to short-term solutions to reduce the impacts of drought, the committee has developed a long-term water conservation strategy that strives to accommodate the needs of all legitimate waters users in the Blackfoot basin, make the Blackfoot less vulnerable to drought, and improve the overall health of the watershed. Projects under the long-term water conservation strategy include stream & habitat restoration, water leasing, ditch lining, the NCAT soil moisture monitoring probes, and irrigation efficiency.
