Interior northern California is still experiencing widespread drought. Impacts from the relatively dry start to the calendar year have started to become evident across interior Northern California. Much of the region has increased the severity of the drought conditions. Many local and regional, as well as state-wide restrictions continue with plans for increased restrictions forthcoming. Agricultural surface water deliveries are already scheduled to be significantly reduced. The state-wide drought declaration by governor Gavin Newsom also continues. Mandatory water restrictions are in place on outdoor water use for all Californians with possible fines to violators. As of the month of May, the Public Affairs Officer at Bureau of Reclamation reported that they anticipate that in the Sacramento Valley alone, over 350,000 acres of farmland will be fallowed. It was reported that agriculture and most of the state���s energy development are both water-intensive industries and less water will mean communities across California are going to suffer this year during the drought, it���s just a question of how much more they suffer.

Drought in NORTHERN SACRAMENTO VALLEY, CALIFORNIA
From 01-MAY-22 00:00:00 to 31-MAY-22 23:59:00 (PST-8)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

For the month of May, the U.S. Drought Monitor kept all of Zone 15 in extreme drought (D3). The zone saw drought impacts continue due to the below average precipitation for the water year at around 50-60% of average. Water storage levels at Lake Shasta were reported at 40% of its total capacity, the lowest ever recorded at the beginning of May since record-keeping began in 1977. Drought impacts include but are not limited too: agriculture, water supplies, recreation, and ecosystems. Drought impacts to the region include; little to no allocation of water from irrigation districts to agriculture, reduced rangeland forage without alternative forage, hay prices at record levels, cattle being sold, including calves that are typically sold in late Fall, earlier onset of irrigation, increased fire danger, as well as increasing reports of dry wells. The local economy continues to be significantly impacted.

Drought in CENTRAL SACRAMENTO VALLEY, CALIFORNIA
From 01-MAY-22 00:00:00 to 31-MAY-22 23:59:00 (PST-8)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

For the month of May, the U.S. Drought Monitor degraded all of Zone 16 to extreme drought (D3). The zone saw drought impacts continue due to the below average precipitation for the water year at around 50-75% of average. Water storage at Lake Oroville was recorded at 55% of its capacity which is only around 70% of average for the month of May. Drought impacts include but are not limited too: agriculture, water supplies, recreation, and ecosystems.  Drought impacts to the region include; little to no allocation of water from irrigation districts to agriculture, reduced rangeland forage without alternative forage, hay prices at record levels, cattle being sold, including calves that are typically sold in late Fall, earlier onset of irrigation, increased fire danger, as well as increasing reports of dry wells. The local economy continues to be significantly impacted.

Drought in SOUTHERN SACRAMENTO VALLEY, CALIFORNIA
From 01-MAY-22 00:00:00 to 31-MAY-22 23:59:00 (PST-8)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

For the month of May, the U.S. Drought Monitor degraded the majority of Zone 17 to extreme drought (D3). The zone saw drought impacts continue due to the below average precipitation for the water year at around 70-90% of average. Drought impacts include but are not limited too: agriculture, water supplies, recreation, and ecosystems.  Some of the impacts the region saw included; reduced forage, decreased stock weights, livestock stress, selling of livestock, decrease in water allocation, increased reports of dry wells including domestic wells, hauling of water, and plans to fallow large areas of cropland.

Drought in CARQUINEZ STRAIT AND DELTA, CALIFORNIA
From 01-MAY-22 00:00:00 to 31-MAY-22 23:59:00 (PST-8)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

For the month of May, the U.S. Drought Monitor degraded the eastern portion of Zone 18 to extreme drought (D3) with the remainder of the zone in severe drought (D2). The zone saw drought impacts continue due to the below average precipitation for the water year at around 70-85% of average. The temporary rock wall constructed on the false river in the Delta that was partially taken down in January 2022 to allow fish and boats through began reconstruction to prevent more salt water intrusion. Some of the impacts the region saw included; reduced forage, decreased stock weights, livestock stress, selling of livestock, decrease in water allocation, earlier onset of irrigation, increased reports of dry wells including domestic wells, hauling of water, and plans to fallow large areas of cropland.

Drought in NORTHERN SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY, CALIFORNIA
From 01-MAY-22 00:00:00 to 31-MAY-22 23:59:00 (PST-8)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

For the month of May, the U.S. Drought Monitor degraded the majority of Zone 19 to extreme drought (D3) with the far western border of the zone remaining in severe drought (D2). The zone saw drought impacts continue due to the below average precipitation for the water year at around 60-85% of average. Drought impacts include but are not limited too: agriculture, water supplies, recreation, and ecosystems.

Drought in MOUNTAINS SOUTHWESTERN SHASTA COUNTY TO WESTERN COLUSA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA
From 01-MAY-22 00:00:00 to 31-MAY-22 23:59:00 (PST-8)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

For the month of May, the U.S. Drought Monitor made little change to the zone with the majority of Zone 63 in extreme drought (D3) with the far western border of the zone remaining in severe drought (D2). The zone saw drought impacts continue due to the below average precipitation for the water year at around 45-65% of average. Drought impacts to the region include; little to no allocation of water from irrigation districts to agriculture, reduced rangeland forage without alternative forage, hay prices at record levels, cattle being sold, including calves that are typically sold in late Fall, earlier onset of irrigation, increased fire danger, as well as increasing reports of dry wells. The local economy continues to be impacted.

Drought in NORTHEAST FOOTHILLS/SACRAMENTO VALLEY, CALIFORNIA
From 01-MAY-22 00:00:00 to 31-MAY-22 23:59:00 (PST-8)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

For the month of May, the U.S. Drought Monitor made little change to the zone with the the northern and western portions of Zone 66 in extreme drought (D3) and kept the remainder of the zone in severe drought (D2). The zone saw drought impacts continue due to the below average precipitation for the water year at around 60-80% of average. Drought impacts to the region include; little to no allocation of water from irrigation districts to agriculture, reduced rangeland forage without alternative forage, hay prices at record levels, cattle being sold, including calves that are typically sold in late Fall, as well as increasing reports of dry wells. The local economy continues to be impacted.

Drought in MOTHERLODE/CAMPTONVILLE TO GROVELAND, CALIFORNIA
From 01-MAY-22 00:00:00 to 31-MAY-22 23:59:00 (PST-8)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

For the month of May, the U.S. Drought Monitor degraded the southern portion of Zone 67 in Calaveras and Tuolumne counties to exceptional drought (D4), kept severe drought (D2) in the far northeastern portion of the zone as well as the remainder of the zone in extreme drought (D3). The zone saw drought impacts continue due to the below average precipitation for the water year at around 60-90% of average. Drought impacts include but are not limited too: agriculture, water supplies, recreation, and ecosystems.

Drought in MT SHASTA/WESTERN PLUMAS COUNTY, CALIFORNIA
From 01-MAY-22 00:00:00 to 31-MAY-22 23:59:00 (PST-8)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

For the month of May, the U.S. Drought Monitor made little change to Zone 68 with the far northwestern portion of the zone in extreme drought (D3) and the remainder of the zone in severe drought (D2). The zone saw drought impacts continue due to the below average precipitation for the water year at around 60-90% of average. Drought impacts include but are not limited too: agriculture, water supplies, recreation, and ecosystems.

Drought in WEST SLOPE NORTHERN SIERRA NEVADA, CALIFORNIA
From 01-MAY-22 00:00:00 to 31-MAY-22 23:59:00 (PST-8)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

For the month of May, the U.S. Drought Monitor degraded the southern portion of Zone 69 in Calaveras and Tuolumne counties to exceptional drought (D4), with a large region in the southwestern portion of the zone in extreme drought (D3) and the remainder of the zone in severe drought (D2). The zone saw drought impacts continue due to the below average precipitation for the water year at around 70-95% of average. Drought impacts include but are not limited too: agriculture, water supplies, recreation, and ecosystems.

Drought in SHASTA LAKE/NORTH SHASTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA
From 01-MAY-22 00:00:00 to 31-MAY-22 23:59:00 (PST-8)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

For the month of May, the U.S. Drought Monitor kept all of Zone 13 in extreme drought (D3). The zone saw drought impacts continue due to the below average precipitation for the water year at around 60% of average. Drought impacts include but are not limited too: agriculture, water supplies, recreation, and ecosystems.

Drought in BURNEY BASIN/EASTERN SHASTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA
From 01-MAY-22 00:00:00 to 31-MAY-22 23:59:00 (PST-8)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

For the month of May, the U.S. Drought Monitor kept approximately the western half of Zone 14 in extreme drought (D3) with the remainder of the zone in severe drought (D2).
The zone saw drought impacts continue due to the below average precipitation for the water year at around 60-85% of average. Drought impacts include but are not limited too: agriculture, water supplies, recreation, and ecosystems.