A recent study published in Geophysical Research Letters found that reservoirs across the United States are experiencing low storage with greater regularity and more severity than several decades ago.

While the situation is mainly in the west and central regions of the country, reservoirs throughout the U.S. are vulnerable.

“The findings, which update critical information about water storage, should improve water forecasting, helping water managers at national, regional and local levels make more informed decisions about the timing and volume of water release,” said Caelan Simeone, U.S. Geological Survey, in a statement.

Simeone looked at data from 250 large reservoirs from 1981 through 2020, analyzing changes in water baseline and maximum and minimum water levels. Researchers compared water levels to management practices and climate to find patterns that might explain changes in water levels.

“A combination of increased sediment and changing hydroclimatic conditions are likely driving the observed increase in variability of water storage and overall decreases in water levels,” the study said.

DrinkTap’s Drought page says, “Global climate change may cause some areas to receive less rain while others receive more. In addition, climate change may impact the intensity of rainfall, so that more rain falls over a shorter period of time. Climate change could also impact drought by increasing temperature, which could increase demand and evaporation.”

Updated drought information from throughout the United States is available from the National Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska.

We can manage drought conditions by practicing responsible water use. DrinkTap’s Water Conservation page offers several tips, including:

Indoors

• Kitchen
  • When cooking, peel and clean vegetables in a large bowl of water instead of under running water.
• Only run the dishwasher when it’s full.
• Bathroom
  • Take short showers instead of baths.
• Turn off the water to brush teeth, shave and soap up in the shower. Fill the sink to shave.
• Laundry
  • Run full loads of laundry.

Outdoors

• When mowing your lawn, set the mower blades to 2-3 inches high. Longer grass shades the soil and improves moisture retention. Longer blades can better take in sunlight, allowing grass to grow thicker and develop a deeper root system. This helps grass survive drought, tolerate insect damage and fend off disease.
• Collect rainfall for irrigation (if legal in your community) in a screened container (to prevent mosquito larvae growth).
• Always use a broom to clean walkways, driveways, decks and porches, rather than hosing off these areas.