Arizona Drought Status

Drought conditions changed very little over the past 30 days, with all of Arizona experiencing moderate to extreme drought (Figures 4a–b). Monsoon precipitation provided short-term drought relief in some areas, including parts of northern and central Arizona, but overall was spotty over the past month. Current drought conditions across the state stem from long-term precipitation deficits, particularly those that have accumulated over the past two years. Along stretch of average to above-average precipitation will be necessary to bring conditions back to normal. Monsoon precipitation through the rest of the summer season will help ease short-term drought conditions but will not erase them.

In drought-related news, ongoing dry conditions have reduced the water supply for Safford in eastern Arizona, forcing the mayor and city council to declare a state of emergency and set in place mandatory water use restrictions (Eastern Arizona Courier, August 15). Also, streamflow in Bonita Creek, the main surface water supply for the city, was down 18 percent at the end of July, making it difficult for the city to meet water use demand. The Stage One water restrictions call for residents to reduce nonessential water use and limit watering landscapes during daytime hours.