Kansas governor approves updated drought declarations

Gov. Laura Kelly has approved updated drought declarations for Kansas counties with Executive Order #24-01.

“While drought conditions have improved greatly in recent months, many counties continue to be negatively impacted by the decline in water supply or strains on water resources,” Kelly said. “I strongly encourage all Kansans to continue to conserve water as we head into the summer months.”

The drought declaration removed all 55 counties previously in emergency status and placed 15 counties into warning status and 62 into watch status.

Action based on recommendation

This action was recommended by Connie Owen, director of the Kansas Water Office and chair of the Governor’s Drought Response Team. While a majority of Kansas has seen significant relief from drought since August, central and southeast Kansas continue to be in severe drought.

“Counties in a watch status have conditions which indicate the probability of a water shortage is rising. It is important to monitor these conditions and be mindful of water usage in these counties,” Owen said. “The Governor’s Drought Response Team will continue to monitor the drought conditions across Kansas and make recommendations to Gov. Kelly as conditions change.”

This executive order shall remain in effect for those counties identified until rescinded by an order ending the declaration or revising the drought stage status of the affected counties.

Order outlined

Effective immediately, Executive Order #24-01:

• Declares a drought emergency, warning, or watch for the identified counties (map is shown above);
• Authorizes and directs all agencies under the jurisdiction of the governor to implement the appropriate watch, warning, or emergency-level drought response actions assigned in the operations plan of the Governor’s Drought Response Team.

The Governor’s Drought Response Team will continue to watch the situation closely and work to minimize the negative drought-induced effects on Kansans.

For more detailed information about current conditions, visit the Climate and Drought webpage on the Kansas Water Office website at kwo.ks.gov.

Drought warning

Chautauqua, Clay, Dickinson, Elk, Graham, Harvey, Jewell, McPherson, Mitchell, Montgomery, Osborne, Ottawa, Reno, Rice, Rooks, Wilson.

 Drought watch

Allen, Anderson, Atchison, Barton, Bourbon, Brown, Butler, Chase, Cherokee, Cheyenne, Cloud, Coffey, Cowley, Crawford, Decatur, Doniphan, Douglas, Ellis, Ellsworth, Franklin, Geary, Gove, Greenwood, Jackson, Jefferson, Johnson, Kingman, Labette, Lane, Leavenworth, Lincoln, Linn, Lyon, Marion, Marshall, Miami, Morris, Nemaha, Neosho, Ness, Norton, Osage, Phillips, Pottawatomie, Pratt, Rawlins, Republic, Riley, Russell, Saline, Sedgwick, Shawnee, Sheridan, Sherman, Smith, Stafford, Thomas, Trego, Wabaunsee, Washington, Woodson, Wyandotte.