Idaho’s water outlook for this year was looking good in April with solid snowpack and cool conditions. 

But no longer. 

Three months later, most of the state, including North Idaho, is in a drought, said David Hoekema, hydrologist with the Idaho Department of Water Resources, on Monday. 

“This makes three years of drought in North Idaho, which is pretty substantial,” Hoekema said. “We haven't seen that very often.” 

Since April 1, Idaho has experienced “exceptionally dry conditions with temperatures being severely warm.” 

“These warm, dry conditions have dramatically changed the outlook on water supply conditions statewide,” Hoekema wrote. “It seems all but certain that the drought in northern Idaho will continue for another year. Water shortages in eastern Idaho are becoming increasingly likely.” 

Coeur d’Alene received only 0.11 of an inch of rain in June, well below the normal of 1.93 inches of rain. It was the driest June on record in Coeur d’Alene, said climatologist Cliff Harris. 

The forecast calls for continued sunny skies. 

“Still no rain,” Harris wrote. 

Hoekema said as a result, there could be significant environmental impacts. 

The dry terrain creates an increased risk of wildlife and warmer streams could lead to fish kills.

In the Palouse in Eastern Washington, they are already talking about lower wheat yields due to a lack of moisture. 

Hydrological power production could also be reduced in Idaho.

“That’s in a state where we rely quite a bit on hydropower,” Hoekema said. 

Kyle Marine, Coeur d’Alene water department director, said the city pumped 793 million gallons of water in June, with a peak day of 32.5 million. That was a substantial increase from 578 million gallons pumped in June 2024, with a peak day of 24.8 million. 

He said higher temperature generally drives more usage. 

“We’re keeping up with current water demand, but we always encourage people to use water wisely,” he wrote.

The city recently added an automatic valve that helps move water from the upper zone to the lower zone, since its strongest wells are up by the northwest side of Interstate 90.  

“Right now, we’re running all of our wells at full capacity in the mornings, and we usually start catching up with demand by around 9 a.m. to noon, Marine wrote. 

Hoekema said in the past, North Idaho, with its mountains and lakes, wasn’t prone to droughts. But drought years in 2019, 2021, and the current three-year dry stretch with reduced snowfall, it's a different story. 

“It’s a concerning trend,” he said. 

The spring snowpack at lower elevations, even at 100% of normal, didn’t hold as hoped due to little rain and above-average temperatures. 

Spring weather has a huge impact on Idaho’s water supply, Hoekema said. 

”It will take significant rainfall to pull the area out of the drought,” he said. 

Thanks to the Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer, North Idaho has a steady water source. But not so in other parts of the state. 

“Water shortages in eastern Idaho are becoming increasingly likely,” Hoekema wrote. “The Snake River storage is below average for this time of year and being consumed at a rate that is significantly greater than normal for this time of year. Unless the North American Monsoon brings significant moisture and humidity to the eastern Snake River basin, it is becoming increasingly likely that water users will experience water shortages in August and September.”