The drought in Kansas continues and in the midst of a massive heat wave the past several days, it has only gotten worse. Governor Laura Kelly has approved updated Drought Declarations for counties in Kansas. The Drought Declaration placed 55 counties into an Emergency Status, 18 counties in a Warning Status and 32 into a Watch Status. In the KOFO listening area, only Anderson County is in an Emergency Status; however, Franklin, Douglas, Osage, Miami and Linn Counties are included in a Warning Status. While most of western Kansas have seen relief from drought in the last two months, central and southeast Kansas have continued to be dry, with nearly 30% of Kansas currently in extreme or exceptional drought.
Through an interagency agreement between the Kansas Water Office, Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks and Kansas Division of Emergency Management, counties in emergency stage are eligible for emergency use of water from certain state fishing lakes. These counties also become eligible for water in some federal reservoirs.
