More than half Beltrami County is now in exceptional drought, for the first time since drought monitoring began in the late 90s.
Last month was the driest July in 127 years, according to Beltrami County Emergency Management.
Fire danger remains very high and burning restrictions remain in effect.
The DNR recommends lakeshore property owners remove their seasonally docked boats earlier than usual if conditions warrant it.
Significant issues are also reported at boat launch ramps, with little that can be done in already shallow lakes and low lake levels, as well as deep holes created by power loading that equipment can’t fix.
Boaters should be aware of new obstructions in the water, such as rocks, stumps and sand bars that may not typically be an issue but are now creating hazards due to low lake levels.
