TOPEKA–Due to current and worsening drought conditions, a Drought Update is now being provided weekly by the Kansas Water Office until conditions improve.

Drought conditions expand in Kansas, moving further eastward.  Governor Sam Brownback has issued another executive order that moves 13 additional counties into drought emergency status, and another six counties to drought watch status.

Three quarters of Kansas is well below normal precipitation and available soil moisture. Stream flows and lake levels are also being adversely affected.

County Drought Declarations: A total of 86 counties are under state drought stages, with 30 counties in an emergency stage, 29 in Warning and 27 in Watch. Declarations are based on precipitation, water resource and soil conditions. State Emergency allows public water suppliers aid and opportunities to supplement their water supply, as well as provide opportunity for domestic and livestock water from emergency sources.

Kansas Drought Emergency: Barber, Barton, Clark, Comanche, Edwards, Finney, Ford, Grant, Gray, Harper, Harvey,
Haskell, Hodgeman, Kearny, Kingman, Kiowa, Lane, McPherson, Meade, Morton, Pawnee, Pratt, Reno, Rice, Sedgwick,
Seward, Stafford, Stanton, Stevens, Sumner.