As many know, Idaho has been fluctuating between moderate to severe drought conditions for years. The National Integrated Drought Information System was first operational in 2000 and documented the longest recorded drought in Idaho in 2001, which lasted 258 weeks.
Currently, the NIDIS estimates 97.7% of Idaho is abnormally dry, 68.6% of Idaho is in a moderate drought, and 12.2% of Idaho is in a severe drought. The majority of Central Idaho is in a moderate drought, with Northern Idaho and the area surrounding Ada County abnormally dry.
Droughts impact many activities and systems; they increase the likelihood of wildfire, shorten grazing seasons, create a greater demand for irrigation, and also create water scarcity. Teton County, located near the border of Idaho and Wyoming, is experiencing a water shortage even with its low population of roughly 27 people per square mile.
Being born and raised in Nampa, Idaho, I experienced some abnormally dry winters, and summers that exceeded 100 degrees. The canal water levels got lower and lower, and the ground got more and more brittle. Then, Snowmageddon. In the 2016-17 school year, Ada County and Canyon County saw around 40 inches of snow, according to KTVB. As school got cancelled for weeks at a time, we began to realize that a lot of water was going to start flowing from the mountains later that spring.
While this past winter may not have been another Snowmageddon, the heavy snowpack seen throughout most of the state may help alleviate drought conditions.
Idaho’s soil is generally very dry, and during a typical Idahoan cold season, the ground is too dry for much moisture from rain or snow to be absorbed into the aquifer. With colder seasons and increased precipitation, however, more water will have the chance to be absorbed.
This past November was around five degrees colder across the state. While it was followed by a relatively warm October, January has also seen colder temperatures and increased snowfall.
These changes in conditions have by no means fixed the problem of the drought, but it does provide some respite for many of the Idahoans suffering from complications brought about by the dry nature of Idaho.
If we want to further help the current conditions of drought-impacted Idaho, we need to continue to support climate legislation and action. By acting against the issues surrounding global warming, we will begin to see more livable conditions in Idaho. This means an increase in water supply, healthier soil, and less extreme temperatures.
Mackenzie Davidson can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @mackenzie_films