DES MOINES— The unusually warm and mostly dry June promoted the development of moderate drought conditions for parts of the state. However, Iowa continues to have abundant soil moisture reserves, high stream flow and a substantial groundwater supply thanks to a record wet 2015 fall.
June brought frequent rain to about the northeast one-third of Iowa and below normal precipitation to the remainder of the state.
Streamflow conditions are normal for the majority of the state. Portions of the Des Moines, Skunk, Fox and Chariton rivers are now in the below normal condition. On July 4, the Iowa average streamflow index dropped below the normal line, the first time it has been below normal since May 14, 2015.
Shallow groundwater levels in parts of southeast and central Iowa continue to deteriorate while levels in northwest and southwest Iowa continue to be above normal, and conditions in east central and northeast Iowa are normal.
For a 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 and the National Weather Service.