The Dust BowlThe Dust Bowl“Can It Happen Again”“Can It Happen Again”

Mike SporcicMike Sporcic

National Wind Erosion SpecialistNational Wind Erosion Specialist

USDA NRCSUSDA NRCS

Not Far Not Far From From HomeHome

Bismark, NDBismark, ND

Liberal, KS Liberal, KS April 14, 1935April 14, 1935

A black blizzard over A black blizzard over Prowers Co. CO. Prowers Co. CO. 19371937

Black Sunday April 14, 1935. The dust storm Black Sunday April 14, 1935. The dust storm that turned day into night. Many believed the that turned day into night. Many believed the world was coming to an end. Dodge City, KSworld was coming to an end. Dodge City, KS

A black blizzard over Prowers Co., CO 1937A black blizzard over Prowers Co., CO 1937

June 4, 1937, at Goodwell, OKJune 4, 1937, at Goodwell, OK

Dust storm approaching Stratford, TX Dust storm approaching Stratford, TX April 18, 1935April 18, 1935

Dust storm approaching Stratford, TX Dust storm approaching Stratford, TX April 18, 1935April 18, 1935

Approaching dust storm at Powers Co., CO Approaching dust storm at Powers Co., CO Storm lasted from 4:15 PM to 7:00 PMStorm lasted from 4:15 PM to 7:00 PM

A black blizzard over Prower Co., CO 1937A black blizzard over Prower Co., CO 1937

Dust storm at Sheridan Lake, CODust storm at Sheridan Lake, CO

A dust cloud approaching a small town in OKA dust cloud approaching a small town in OK

““Fleeing a dust storm”Fleeing a dust storm”

Farmer Arthur Coble Farmer Arthur Coble and sons walking in and sons walking in the face of the dust the face of the dust storm. April, 1936 storm. April, 1936

Dust is too much for Dust is too much for this farmer’s son in this farmer’s son in Cimarron County, OK Cimarron County, OK 19361936

Sometimes it was deep.Sometimes it was deep.

Garden City, KS at 5:15 PM (Garden City, KS at 5:15 PM (note the street lights note the street lights photo 1photo 1) and compare to photo 2. Photo 2 was just ) and compare to photo 2. Photo 2 was just 15 min. later after the dust blotted out the sun.15 min. later after the dust blotted out the sun.

Photo 1 Photo 2

Dust storm approaching Elkhart, KSDust storm approaching Elkhart, KS

May, 1937May, 1937

Red Cross Red Cross volunteers volunteers wearing dust wearing dust masks. masks. Liberal, KSLiberal, KS

The Dust Bowl The Dust Bowl and drought and drought devastated devastated some farm some farm families in the families in the early 1930’s, early 1930’s, such as this 32 such as this 32 year old mother year old mother of seven. of seven. “Migrant “Migrant Mother” 1936Mother” 1936

But Today Things are Different, or But Today Things are Different, or Are They?Are They?

Dallas 2/07 Before AfterDallas 2/07 Before After

One MoreOne More

Dallas 2/07 Before AfterDallas 2/07 Before After

Things are not so different!Things are not so different!

This is This is just north just north of Big of Big Springs, Springs, TX on the TX on the south south edge of edge of the Dust the Dust Bowl. Bowl. Feb/07Feb/07

Areas of Concern for Wind ErosionAreas of Concern for Wind Erosion

Wind Erosion ContinuesWind Erosion Continues

As recently as the spring of 1996 wind As recently as the spring of 1996 wind erosion severely damaged ag land erosion severely damaged ag land throughout the Great Plains.throughout the Great Plains.

On Cropland, about 172 million acres are On Cropland, about 172 million acres are eroded by wind and water at twice the soil eroded by wind and water at twice the soil loss tolerance rate.loss tolerance rate.

Wind erosion is about 40% of this loss, Wind erosion is about 40% of this loss, and can increase markedly in drought and can increase markedly in drought years.years.

Wind Erosion, the ProblemWind Erosion, the Problem

Wind erosion is the dominate problem on Wind erosion is the dominate problem on about 74 million acres and moderately about 74 million acres and moderately severe on 5 million acres.severe on 5 million acres.

NRI data shows a 0.8 of a ton/ac NRI data shows a 0.8 of a ton/ac improvement from 1982 to 1994 mostly improvement from 1982 to 1994 mostly from CRP.from CRP.

Wind Takes the BestWind Takes the BestWind erosion removes the lighter, less Wind erosion removes the lighter, less dense soil constituents such as OM, clays, dense soil constituents such as OM, clays, and silts.and silts.It has been estimated that it causes It has been estimated that it causes annual yield reductions of 339,000 bu of annual yield reductions of 339,000 bu of Wheat and 543,000 bu of sorghum on 1.2 Wheat and 543,000 bu of sorghum on 1.2 million acres of sandy soil in SW KS. million acres of sandy soil in SW KS. Somewhat masked by technology.Somewhat masked by technology.It damages seedlings.It damages seedlings.

Wind Erosion Gets in the AirWind Erosion Gets in the AirSuspension becomes part of the Suspension becomes part of the atmospheric dust load.atmospheric dust load.It can cause health issues as PM-10 and It can cause health issues as PM-10 and PM 2.5.PM 2.5.NM has a non-attainment over Las NM has a non-attainment over Las Cruces.Cruces.It routinely causes Interstate 10 to be It routinely causes Interstate 10 to be closed, hopefully before someone is killed.closed, hopefully before someone is killed.Some states use EQIP to reduce sediment Some states use EQIP to reduce sediment load in borrow ditches and on roads. load in borrow ditches and on roads.

KS Rainfall 1895-2002KS Rainfall 1895-2002

Dry Years and high erosion

Dry Years and high eroson

New Mexico Rainfall 1895-2002New Mexico Rainfall 1895-2002

Dry Years

Rainfall 1935Rainfall 1935

Rainfall 1936Rainfall 1936

Rainfall 1937Rainfall 1937

Rainfall 1951Rainfall 1951

Rainfall 1956Rainfall 1956

Average Wind Speed

0

5

10

15

20

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

months

mile

s/hr

ABQClaytonRoswell

0

1,000,000

2,000,000

3,000,000

4,000,000

5,000,000

6,000,000

7,000,000

8,000,000

9,000,000

10,000,000

Acres

TX MN ND CO MT KS NE SD ID WA OK MI NM IA AR WY OR IN UT WI CA NV OH

State

NRI Wind Erosion, States > T

Major Things that Effect Wind ErosionMajor Things that Effect Wind ErosionCrop RotationCrop Rotation, high residue crops vs low residue row , high residue crops vs low residue row crops. Alfalfa system erode less.crops. Alfalfa system erode less.Tillage practicesTillage practices, Heavy tillage like plows vs No-till or , Heavy tillage like plows vs No-till or non-inversion tillage like sweeps.non-inversion tillage like sweeps.Surface RoughnessSurface Roughness, Ridging and Clodiness reduce , Ridging and Clodiness reduce erosion and trap moving soil particles.erosion and trap moving soil particles.Cover CropsCover Crops, Used for cover when low residue crops are , Used for cover when low residue crops are grown.grown.Amount of GrazingAmount of Grazing, Eastern NM systems have heavy , Eastern NM systems have heavy grazing in them.grazing in them.Annual RainfallAnnual Rainfall, dry cropland will blow on dry years, even , dry cropland will blow on dry years, even with good mgt.with good mgt.Timing of tillageTiming of tillage, Land heavy tilled soon after harvest will , Land heavy tilled soon after harvest will erode more that delaying tillage closer to seeding time.erode more that delaying tillage closer to seeding time.IrrigationIrrigation, wet soil blows less., wet soil blows less.