DNR Weekly Drought Update

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minnesota department of natural resources

Weekly Drought Update - Sept. 20, 2021

Key Points in this Update

Drought:

  • As of Sept. 14, 23 percent of the state is experiencing severe drought (up from 22 percent last week), 30 percent is experiencing extreme drought (down from 31 percent last week) and six percent of the state is experiencing exceptional drought (no change from last week).
  • The state continues in the Drought Warning Phase. The Rainy River and the Red River watersheds remain in the restrictive phase.
  • As of Sept. 16, there are 16 active well interference investigations in six counties and one additional case is in the resolution phase.

Streamflow:

  • 24 out of 81 total major surface water watersheds are below the Q90. Five watersheds dropped below their respective Q90 (minimum flow) this week. One watershed has experienced increased flow and is now above the minimum flow (Q90) threshold after being below in the previous week.
  • 187 surface water appropriation permits out of 517 reviewed for potential permit suspension are currently suspended across 24 watersheds throughout the state.
  • 48 surface water appropriation permits in the Wild Rice River (6 permits), Mississippi River- Sartell (36 permits), and Sauk River (6 permits) watersheds were reinstated after flows increased above the Q90, including the cumulative instantaneous total of all suspended appropriations from contributing surface water sources within the watershed.

Mississippi River dams:

  • Four of the five gages had flows below the trigger flow as of noon Wednesday.
  • Localized rain caused a short-term increase in flow from Pillager to Brooklyn Park.

Fire danger:

  • As of Sept. 20, fire danger is low in all Minnesota counties.
  • As of Sept. 20, burning permits are still required in all counties and burning restrictions are in place in some northern counties.
  • Effective 12:01 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 21, burning restrictions in Cook and Lake counties will be removed, ending all DNR-issued burning restrictions across the state. Remember fires can start easily in dry grass and leaves in fall. Wildfire risk is assessed daily on a county-by-county basis. Please check the maps below for current information.
  • As of Sept. 20, the Greenwood Fire, 10 miles SW of Isabella, is at 26,797 acres in size (41 square miles) and is 80% contained.

Sample Lake Level situation:

  • Seven of the ten reporting lakes decreased from the previous week, from 0.48 to 1.44 inches.
  • Three of the ten reporting lakes increased from the previous week, from 0.12 to 0.48 inches.
  • Three of the ten lakes remain in the low range.
  • Two of the ten lakes are in the below normal range
  • Five of the ten lakes are in the normal range.

Drought Information

Last two weeks of Drought Maps:

Sept 7 drought mapSept 14 drought map

Link to the maps.

Drought Analysis and Recommendations:

Drought situation:

  • Counties with an area of exceptional drought (D4): 9
  • Counties with an area of extreme drought (D3): 25
  • Counties with an area of severe drought (D2): more than 40
  • Counties with an area of moderate drought (D1): All counties except for nine have at least some moderate drought.
  • Counties just abnormally dry (D0 – not drought): 9
  • Counties with no designation: 2
  • Estimated population in Drought Areas: 4,464,642

Drought management actions:

  • The state remains in the drought warning phase of the Statewide Drought Plan.
  • The Rainy River and the Red River watersheds continue to experience extreme to exceptional drought and water suppliers remain in the restrictive phase.
  • As of Sept. 16, DNR has received 22 well interference complaint forms in six counties. See DNR Well Interference webpage.
    • 16 are active investigations.
    • Two were found valid; one is concluded and one is in resolution/negotiation phase.
    • One was found not valid.
    • One was dismissed.
    • Two were resolved early by the appropriator.
  • The DNR has received 31 verbal complaints, four of which were resolved by nearby appropriators.

Streamflow Information     

Streamflow map

Link to the map.

 Streamflow Analysis and Recommendations:

Streamflow situation:

  • Watersheds at minimum flow (below Q90): 24 watersheds (Lake Superior – North, Lake Superior - South, St. Louis River, Cloquet River, Mississippi River-Grand Rapids, Mississippi River – Brainerd, Mississippi River – St. Cloud, Upper St. Croix River, Marsh River, Two River, Roseau River, Lake of the Woods, Rainy River – Headwaters, Vermillion River, Rainy River – Rainy Lake, Rainy River – Manitou, Little Fork River, Big Fork River, Nemadji River, Kettle River, Red Lake River, Rapid River, and Rainy River).
  • Watersheds at low flow: 12 watersheds are experiencing low flow.
  • Watersheds at normal flow: 33 watersheds are experiencing normal flow conditions.
  • Watersheds at high flows: 12 watersheds are experiencing high flows.

Streamflow management actions:

  • 187 surface water appropriation permits are currently suspended across 24 watersheds including the St. Louis River, Cloquet River, Mississippi River – Brainerd, Pine River, Crow Wing River, Redeye River, Rapid River, Rainy River – Baudette, Sand Hill River, Little Fork River, Rainy River – Headwaters, Big Fork River, Rainy River – Manitou, Mississippi River – Grand Rapids, Red Lake River, Clearwater River, Thief River, Roseau River, Lake of the Woods, Two River , Lake Superior – North, Mississippi River – St. Cloud, Snake River, Lower St. Croix River, Mississippi River – Lake Pepin, and Watonwan River watersheds.
  • Five watersheds dropped below the Q90 within the last week. One watershed increased above the local Q90.
  • Permit reinstatements following temporary suspension due to minimum flows:
    • Wild Rice River (No. 60): 6 surface water appropriation permits were reinstated on September 10, 2021. Flows at the designated stream flow gage at Twin Valley increased above the Q90 within the last few weeks enough to reinstate the suspended permits.
    • Mississippi River – Sartell (No. 15) and Sauk River (No. 16): 42 surface water appropriation permits were reinstated on September 9, 2021 including four surface water appropriation permit holders that were implementing their contingency plan. Flows at the designated stream flow gage near St. Cloud increased above the Q90 within the last few weeks enough to reinstate the suspended permits.
    • Bois de Sioux River (No. 54) and Mustinka River (No. 55): 8 surface water appropriation permits were reinstated on September 8, 2021.
  • Other permit actions in watersheds at minimum flow (below the Q90) include:
    • Watonwan River (No. 31): 15 surface water appropriation permits were suspended on August 25, 2021. Flows at the designated stream flow gage near Garden City continue above the Q90 this week.
    • Mississippi River – Lake Pepin (No. 38): 9 surface water appropriation permits were suspended on August 25, 2021. Flows at the designated stream flow gage in Empire fluctuated above and below the Q90 this week.
    • Snake River (No. 36) and Lower St. Croix River (No. 37): 16 surface water appropriation permits were suspended on August 24, 2021. One surface water appropriation permit holder is implementing their contingency plan through the use of a groundwater well in lieu of their surface water appropriation. Flows at the designated stream flow gage near Pine City fluctuated above and below the Q90 this week.
    • Mississippi River – St. Cloud (No. 17): 25 surface water appropriation permits were suspended on August 24, 2021. Four surface water appropriation permit holders are implementing their contingency plan through the use of a groundwater well in lieu of their surface water appropriation.
    • Lake Superior – North (No. 1): 2 surface water appropriation permits were suspended on August 17, 2021.
    • Red Lake River (No. 63): 15 surface water appropriation permits were suspended on August 4, 2021.
    • Clearwater River (No. 66): 14 surface water appropriation permits were suspended on August 4, 2021. Flows at the designated stream flow gage at Plummer fluctuated above and below the Q90 this week.
    • Roseau River (No. 71): 1 surface water appropriation permit was suspended on August 2, 2021.
    • Thief River (No. 65): One surface water appropriation permit was reinstated on September 2, 2021.
    • Little Fork River (No. 76): 3 surface water appropriation permits were suspended on July 28, 2021.
    • Rainy River – Headwaters (No. 72): 1 surface water appropriation permit was suspended on July 28, 2021.
    • Rainy River – Manitou (No. 75) and Big Fork River (No. 77): 2 surface water appropriation permits were suspended on July 28, 2021.
    • Mississippi River – Grand Rapids (No. 9): 19 surface water appropriation permits were suspended on July 27, 2021.
    • Sand Hill River (No. 61): 8 surface water appropriation permits were suspended on July 24, 2021. Flows at the designated stream flow gage in Climax continue above the Q90, but not enough to reinstate suspended permits.
    • Mississippi River – Brainerd (No. 10) and Pine River (No. 11) watersheds: 21 surface water appropriation permits were suspended on July 13, 2021.
    • Rapid River (No. 78) and Rainy River - Baudette (No. 79) watersheds: 3 surface water appropriation permits were suspended on July 13, 2021. Flows at the designated stream flow gage on the Roseau River near Malung increased above the Q90, but not enough to reinstate suspended permits.
    • Louis River (No. 3) and Cloquet River (No. 4) watersheds: 6 surface water appropriation permits were suspended on July 11, 2021. Additionally, 3 permits have contingency plans to modify their appropriation under the existing permits.
    • Crow Wing River (No. 12) and Redeye River (No. 13): 17 surface water appropriation permits were suspended on June 28, 2021. Flows at the designated stream gage at Nimrod continue above the Q90 this week.
    • The Marsh River watershed (No. 59) does not have any surface water appropriation permits and flows continue to be below the Q90.
    • The Vermillion River (No. 73) and Rainy River – Rainy Lake (No. 74) watersheds include only two non-consumptive water-use permits, resulting in no suspensions.
    • The Lake of the Woods (No. 80) watershed does not have any surface water appropriation permits.
  • The DNR will reinstate permits when the average daily flow exceeds, for at least 72 hours, the Q90 plus the cumulative instantaneous total of all suspended appropriations from contributing surface water sources within the watershed. Consideration of anticipated precipitation or lack thereof is also a factor in determining when to reinstate suspended permits.
  • We continue to watch the changing streamflow conditions and suspend or reinstate surface water appropriation permits where and when necessary.

Fire Danger and Management

Fire danger mapBurning restrictions map

Link to the maps.  

Fire Danger Analysis and Recommendations:

(Fire danger conditions can change daily based on local meteorological variables. Information presented illustrates a real-time snap shot of current conditions on Sept. 20.)

  • Counties with Extreme Fire Danger: 0
  • Counties with Very High Fire Danger: 0
  • Counties with High Fire Danger: 0
  • Fire management actions:
    • As of Sept. 20, fire danger is low in all Minnesota counties.
    • As of Sept. 20, burning permits are still required in all counties and burning restrictions are in place in some northern counties.
    • Effective 12:01 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 21, burning restrictions in Cook and Lake counties will be removed, ending all DNR-issued burning restrictions across the state. Remember fires can start easily in dry grass and leaves in fall. Wildfire risk is assessed daily on a county-by-county basis. Please check the maps below for current information.
    • As of Sept. 16, the Greenwood Fire, 10 miles SW of Isabella, is at 26,797 acres in size (41 square miles) and is 80% contained.
    • See Superior National Forest webpage for current fire information.

Lake Water Levels

Lake water levels map

Analysis and Recommendations

Lake Level situation depicted on the above map:

  • Seven of the ten reporting lakes decreased from the previous week, from 0.48 to 1.44 inches.
  • Three of the ten reporting lakes increased from the previous week, from 0.12 to 0.48 inches.
  • Three of the ten lakes remain in the low range.
  • Two of the ten lakes are in the below normal range
  • Five of the ten lakes are in the normal range. 

The DNR LakeFinder non-mobile website provides available lake level elevations for individual lakes. Search by county, the lake’s name or 8-digit identification number for your lake, and then click on the Water Levels report. The Lake Water Level report page contains all available lake levels, highest and lowest lake levels, and a 10-year graph. All the reported historic and current lake elevations can be downloaded for viewing or copied to a spreadsheet for graphing and other functions. 

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