All of Wisconsin Suffering from Drought

Drought conditions at Beaver Hollow continue

Currrently,100% of Wisconsin is experiencing drought conditions. Beaver Hollow is in the severe drought category (D2). Dry conditions are challenging for farmers and livestock producers, as well as for wildlife and their habitat. Drought negatively affects streams, causing reduced streamflow, warmer water, and lower oxygen content. Water levels in streams and ponds become lower, and some dry up completely.

The Beaver Hollow area began to show signs of drought in the summer of 2020, and reached the extreme drought category in September 2023. Currently, the area is rated in the severe drought category. Despite the rain received in June – the drought continues. The June rain added moisture to the soil, however it was not enough to soak into the ground and raise the depleted aquifer. It will take years of normal, to above normal rainfall to replenish the aquifer.

Beavers can help! Beavers keep water on the landscape. Their activity creates ponds, and eventually their numerous ponds and canals create a wetland ecosystem that holds millions of gallons of water on the landscape – approximately 1 million gallons of water per acre. The water we see on the surface in lakes and streams is, however, small compared to the amount of the water held below ground. Beaver structures slow the flow of surface water which significantly contributes to groundwater recharge. It is essential to keep beaver on our landscape to continue to have healthy watersheds as our climate continues to warm.