DES MOINES — The Water Summary Update reports lower than average rainfall for the period between the mornings of May 22 through June 3, but conditions have improved for western Iowa thanks to the heavy rains that fell after the Drought Monitor deadline.
Only 28 percent of Iowa is considered to be in moderate drought.
In response to the exceptionally heavy rains in southwest Iowa this week, U.S. Geological Survey field crews are out making flood measurements at eight sites in that region. The West Nishnabotna River near Riverton and Keg Creek in Freemont County are both near record high levels.
Although the rains of June 1 and June 3 helped stream flows in northwest and north central Iowa, continued rainfall is needed to provide long term improvement for ground water.
For a more thorough review of Iowa’s water resource trends, go to www.iowadnr.gov/watersummaryupdate.
The report is prepared by the technical staff from the Iowa DNR, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, IIHR—Hydroscience and Engineering and the U.S. Geological Survey, in collaboration with The Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management Department.
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