National Climatic Data Center, 15 August 2002

• 96% of the state's topsoil was rated as very dry ("short to very short") by the USDA as of July 28.
  • According to the Wyoming State Climatologist (Jan Curtis), topsoil moisture supplies continued to decline during July. As of July 14, only 2 percent of the State had adequate topsoil moisture and 4 percent adequate subsoil moisture, compared with the 5-year averages of 39 and 45 percent adequate or surplus.
• 77% of the state's range and pasture lands were reported in poor to very poor condition by the USDA as of July 28.
• 279 wildfires have scorched 56,209 acres through July 31 (according to the National Interagency Fire Center).
• According to the USGS,
  • Lower than average flows were observed during July in most streams across Wyoming. New record low flows for July were recorded at four USGS streamflow gaging stations. Flows were the second lowest on record at another seven stations. Streamflow data have been collected at these stations for 24 to 89 years.
    • The Powder River at Arvada on July 11, 2002 measured 0 ft3/sec (mean = 316). (D. Peterson, USGS)
    • The Cheyenne River at Riverview on July 8, 2002 measured 0 ft3/sec (mean = about 20). (D. Peterson, USGS)
  • "The ongoing drought continues to be most evident in streams across the southern part of the state, especially in the North Platte and Green River basins," noted Myron Brooks, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) hydrologist. "In fact, several of the sites that set record lows in July, also had record lows in May and June," said Brooks.