Overview

• On July 31 the Goshodam on the Shizukuishi River in Iwate Prefecture fell to a record-low 0% reservoir rate, prompting the North Japan Dam Integrated Management Office to begin emergency supply using below-minimum pool reserves.
• As of August 1, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism and the Water Resources Agency report that 33 dams across 15 prefectures are holding below-average water levels, with 19 river systems under special drought restrictions.
• The ministry has convened its first drought countermeasures headquarters since 2017, with plans to deploy pump trucks and water tankers to municipalities requesting agricultural water support.
• In Shimane Prefecture Obara Dam’s storage has dropped to 36.1%, and it is forecast to reach 0% by mid-August without significant rain.
• Farmers in Iwate report five to six daily consultations over dwindling irrigation supplies, warning that rice quality and crop growth may suffer if shortages persist.