Twin Cities sprinkler restrictions take effect amid drought concerns

Twin Cities residents are being urged to take new steps to conserve water as drought conditions worsen across the state.

Driving the news: Sprinkler restrictions take effect in Minneapolis today. Lawn watering is banned from noon to 6pm, and residents must follow an even-odd schedule outside those hours.

• Saint Paul Regional Water Services is also asking customers across its east metro coverage area to begin following even-odd schedules and reduce use.

Why it matters: The severe drought conditions scorching more than half the state continue to stress our communities and natural resources.

• Photos of a bone-dry tributary in South Minneapolis and waterless rock face at Gooseberry Falls circulated on social media Tuesday.

What they're saying: A Kimball farmer told KARE11 he expects his hay yield to fall 75% this year. His corn crop is barely salvageable.

• "When it gets dry like this, just emotionally it's very tough. All you have to do is look at the corn field. When it looks more like pineapples than it does corn, you know it's devastating," Don Schiefelbein told the station.

What to watch: Most local meteorologists say we need several inches of rain to turn things around. But forecasts are showing two more hot weeks ahead.

• With temperatures in the 90s and no significant storms on the radar, things could get worse before they get better.

The bottom line: Crops are suffering. Lawns are yellowing. Rivers and lakes are dipping to near-record lows.

• We're in the thick of a hot, dry summer and Minnesota is parched.