Kansas Governor Laura Kelly has approved an update to drought declarations for all 105 counties in the state. The new declaration places all of the counties in a watch, warning or emergency status.
The declaration places 34 western Kansas counties into an emergency status, while 8 counties have been placed in a warning, including Stafford, Pawnee, Pratt and Barber counties in southern Kansas. Sedgwick County and the surrounding counties in south central and central Kansas are among 63 counties that are under a watch. The action was recommended by Connie Owen, Director of the Kansas Water Office and the Chair of the Governor’s Drought Response Team.
Owen said drought conditions in Kansas have continued to get worse since last fall, causing concern with groundwater supplies, crop production, elevated wildfire risk and other issues. She said the the Drought Response Team will continue to watch the situation and make recommendations to the Governor as needed.
