U.S. Drought Monitor

[Bakersdozen]

http://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/
I thought this was interesting.
The whole state of Kansas has just ended a 4 year drought. 
Sorry Jen, you are still in the red.

[lazy shooter]

@Baker:

We in West Texas have escaped the drought and the burn bans.  We went through about six years of burn ban, which means no open fire outside the home without containment and constant, diligent supervision.  It makes it hard to barbecue. 

When we build fence during the drought fire extinguished and on 55 gallon drum of water was a requirement if any welding was done.  In Texas, during a burn ban, if one starts an outside fire, and it spreads to the neighbors property the frustrater is responsible for damages.  It's serious.

lazy

[iddee]

In NC, anytime you start a fire and it spreads to your neighbor's property, you are liable for damages. Ban or no ban.

[lazy shooter]

A lot of our rangeland fires are started by lightning.  We normally live in a dry, arid environment.  That hasn't been the case over the past six or eight weeks.

[Bakersdozen]

The fact that Kansas is not in drought conditions is good.  Unfortunately, it's going to take many years of these wet conditions to help the aquifer under western Kansas.  It has been depleted to dangerously low levels.

[Riverrat]

It can quit anytime down this way in Kansas.  we are water logged.  Baker did you know the city of Wichita pumps water out of the little Arkansas river and into the aquifer trying to replenish it.  Not sure I really like that idea,  The sad part is irrigation in western kansas has had a bigger impact on the aquifer than the drought

[Bakersdozen]

Yes I did know.  They've dried up the Ark river.  (maybe it's flowing after all this rain)  They are pumping back into the aquifer to keep the salt deposits, around Hutchinson, from leaching into the aquifer.  What a mess.  All those big Ag corporations in western KS don't care about Wichita's water supply.