Drought, fires, water: Focus for county commissioners.
NWS uses this information to prepare reports for the state and federal governments on the status of drought and other weather phenomenon across the state.
Recently, Maynard said, when hay was being brought in and auctioned for drought-impacted areas across western South Dakota, North Dakota and Montana, the county was on the brink of being included in the drought-impacted area – until a couple of showers in the reporting stations upped rainfall totals and bumped the county out of contention.
Commissioner Joe Falkenburg agreed, and said drought in the southern end of the county was impacting stock dams and other water resources.
“It’s more critical than you could imagine,” he said.
Commissioner Joe Allen said the county needs help “from the top” – state and federal help – to get water for cattle.
Maynard noted that during the recent Sheps Canyon fire – last Monday, Sept. 4, fire burned more than 13 acres in the canyon – took off through the trees on the one side of the canyon like the trees had not had any moisture in a decade.
Maynard requested that the single engine air tanker (SEAT) planes be returned to Hot Springs, so fires could be fought more rapidly.
The fire was reported at 3:16 p.m. on Aug.30, on both private and U.S. Forest Service Land in Custer county about two miles south and west of Argyle.
Local, State and Federal firefighters were able to reach 100 percent containment on Saturday, Sept. 2.