Drought

It's been a rough summer for keeping gardens looking green. Garden Guy Dale K has some tips to fighting the drought and conserving water at the same time.

Part of the reason the Minnehaha Creek is seeing lower than normal water levels is because a dam at Gray’s Bay on Lake Minnetonka, the lake that feeds the stream, was closed on July 21 because water levels on Lake Minnetonka reached a low point:

The entire western portion of Minnesota is currently experiencing a extreme or severe drought, in the middle of what has been a very dry summer. Since less than 2% of the state’s farm land is irrigated, farmers who are very reliant on Mother Nature, have been let down.

Gov. Tim Walz and a top lawmakers say they will support an emergency financial relief package for Minnesota farmers during a September special session.

Governor Walz was among a group of governors discussing the wildfires in Canada that are causing smoke to drift into Minnesota -- along with other environmental issues.

FOX 9 Chief Meteorologist Ian Leonard demonstrates the difference soil moisture can make amid the drought.

With the rain deficit facing Minnesota, it’s been a battle to keep lawns alive this year.

According to numbers from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, the average number of wildfires they see in a year is around 1,400. This year, they’ve already seen more than 1,600.

Rain showers that passed through on Wednesday are providing relief for farmers fighting through the drought.

As a drought continues across much of the state, it’s getting harder and harder for many homeowners to look outside at what their lawns have become.

While farmers are hoping for rain this weekend, there's also growing concerns along the St. Croix River, which is on track to hit historic low water levels as dry conditions persist.