The climate in Wisconsin, while projected to become wetter overall, is also conducive to droughts, particularly during the summer months. Wisconsin has experienced droughts that have lasted for a number of years and cycles of drought. Climate change will affect the magnitude and duration of drought.

Droughts occur as a result of increasing temperatures combined with prolonged periods of lower than average precipitation. The Wisconsin Initiative on Climate Change Impacts (WICCI) projects increases in the days above  90-degrees F by mid-century. Droughts may occur regionally or throughout the state and can last for weeks, months, or years. As a period of drought progresses, groundwater and lake levels drop, flow in streams and rivers is reduced, and wetlands may dry out. Because water is critical to Wisconsin’s environment, culture, and economy these decreases have cascading effects on ecosystems and people.

Who and What Will be Affected

Communities may face a number of issues as a result of drought events including limited water supplies, decreased air quality, increased insect-borne disease exposure, increased risk of wildfire, and decreases in streamflow and lake and groundwater levels. Strains on groundwater, surface water, and drinking water affect food production, businesses, and some community activities.

Increases in drought duration and frequency in Wisconsin communities may affect groups of people disproportionately and affect organisms, their ecosystems, and the biodiversity of ecosystems in different, and often detrimental ways. Additionally, droughts may adversely affect plant and animal communities that may be vulnerable to these conditions.

Water and food

Decreased air quality

Dry conditions, high wind speeds, and wildfires may decrease air quality resulting in increased levels of dust, pollen, and other airborne particulates. Poor air quality may worsen respiratory conditions such as asthma, particularly in vulnerable young and senior populations. In areas where soils may be exposed and easily eroded by wind, such as large crop fields, planting cover and drought-tolerant vegetation can reduce particulates entering the air.

Insects and disease

Droughts may reduce the size of bodies of water and cause portions of them to stagnate as well as drive people to collect and improperly store rainwater. Both of these situations may provide conditions for mosquito larvae that can harbor diseases such as West Nile Virus.  Pest insect populations can be reduced with proper storage of collected rainwater. In bodies of water where water stagnation occurs, aeration can be provided to support fish species that feed on mosquito larvae to help reduce mosquito populations.

Drought conditions can create problems for some native plant and animal species and ecosystems. As warmer weather enhances the presence of drought-tolerant invasive pests, fungal diseases, and competitive invasive plant species, native ecosystems may become increasingly more vulnerable. Some native species of trees, vegetation, and animals will be greatly affected during drought conditions while others may thrive. Learning about the vulnerability or resiliency of species and ecosystems in a community in your region will help to make management decisions for greater resilience.

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