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Council notes drought conditions, D3 designation and potential state aid
Summary
Councilmembers reported dry range conditions and noted the county qualified for a D3 drought designation that could allow state and federal assistance, including low- or no-interest loans for affected producers.
Councilmembers discussed recent dry conditions and water concerns during the Sept. 11 meeting, noting portions of the county have poor range conditions and the county qualified for a D3 drought designation.
One speaker summarized the situation: "we did qualify for a d 3 draft status in and that actually opened the door for the governor to, put a state of emergency on any counties that were d 3." The speaker said that designation could open the door to federal and state assistance and that agricultural producers having difficulty feeding animals could be eligible for low-interest to no-interest loans through the Department of Agriculture. The same speaker said higher-elevation areas had fared better, with snowpack helping some water storage, while lower elevations and range land looked thin and would likely hurt the local economy.
Council members described local observations: green-up did not appear in usual places this monsoon season, and one member described hiking and finding a small pocket of water but noted it would have been difficult to reach without it.
Why it matters: Drought and range conditions affect agricultural producers, water supplies and local economies. The D3 designation has potential programmatic implications for state-declared emergencies and access to assistance programs.
Next steps Councilmembers did not take formal action but discussed the situation and the availability of assistance programs; members indicated they would monitor conditions and follow any guidance from state or county emergency management.
