Kansas Governor Laura Kelly has issued a new drought map for the state. She said drought conditions have improved in recent months but many counties continue to see impacts from the decline in water supply and strains on water resources.
The drought declaration removes all 55 counties previously in emergency status and it places 15 counties into warning status, with 62 in watch status. 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.
Reno, Harvey, Rice and McPherson counties are in warning status, while Sedgwick County and other counties in south central Kansas are in watch status. In southeast Kansas, Elk, Chautauqua, Wilson and Montgomery counties have been placed in warning status. No counties in the state are under emergency status.
Owen said in a press release that the Governor’s Drought Response Team will continue to monitor the drought conditions across Kansas and make recommendations to Governor Kelly as conditions change.
