Kansas Governor Laura Kelly has issued new drought declarations for Kansas counties, with 19 counties that have been placed into an emergency status.
The counties in emergency status include Barber, Harper, Sumner, Cowley and Chautauqua counties in south central and southeast Kansas.
The declaration places 61 counties into a warning status, including Sedgwick, Reno, Pratt, Harvey, McPherson, Butler, and Marion counties. There are 25 counties in a watch status, including Chase County.
The action was recommended by Connie Owen, Director of the Kansas Water Office and chair of the Governor’s Drought Response Team. Owen said in a press release that drought conditions have continued to get worse, causing concerns with groundwater supplies, reservoirs, crop production and an elevated risk of wildfires. The Drought Response Team will continue to monitor conditions and make recommendations to the Governor as needed.
The counties in an emergency stage are eligible for emergency use of water from certain state fishing lakes and some federal reservoirs.
