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No declarations were made in 2001, 2005, 2009, or 2010
Declaration issued for river basins rather than counties. URER (Upper Republican) and SO (Solomon); KLR (Kansas Lower
Republic and MO (Missouri) River Basins.
Because drought has affected the whole state, the data provided below includes Region L in its
synopsis:
• 2012: The Kansas Water Office increased the frequency of the Drought/Climate report
(found at www.kwo.org) to weekly for much of the year due to intensity of conditions. The
Governor signed 3 executive orders this year for drought with all 105 counties were declared
in emergency drought status with the last order. The Governor approved the June 2012
Operations Plan for the Governor‘s Drought Response Team which updated activities and
responses. The Governor’s Office created a Drought Resources Website,
http://governor.ks.gov/kansasdrought-resources, to provide drought information for all Kansans
and to utilize drought relief assistance initiatives.
Drought conditions continued from 2011, although appeared to lessen in the early months of
2012, when above normal precipitation occurred in February, March and April compared to
30 year averages. By May 3 rd however, precipitation was well below normal and
temperatures above. These conditions prompted the first 2012 Executive Order for drought
watch and warning declarations for 91 counties. Conditions also included extremely low soil
moisture for crops and vegetation. May was the second driest and third warmest on record.
By June 5 th , 58 percent of the State was in moderate drought (D2) according to the U.S.
Drought Monitor, with drought affecting all but portions of the south east to some degree. By
the end of June, severe (D2) and extreme drought (D3) impacted in the majority of the State
with the worst in western areas. By July, the entire state was in severe (D2) or worse, with
areas of extreme (D3) and exceptional (D4) expanding. The areas of severity of drought
changed, but the entire state remained at some level of drought for the rest of 2012.
Temperatures and precipitation both contributed to the severity of drought conditions. July
thru August was the warmest period on record, with numerous months ranking as driest or
warmest for various locations, regions or the entire state. October to September was also
the warmest on record. Overall, only two small areas of the State received near normal
precipitation in 2012 with the majority receiving 25-90 percent of normal precipitation
(through Dec 5). As of December 1, precipitation needed to return to normal moisture levels
using the Palmer Drought Severity Index ranged from 3.5 inches in the southwest to
9.31inches in east central division.
USDA agricultural disaster due to drought was declared for all 105 counties in Kansas
based on crop losses through a series of six designations in July and August. This makes
producers eligible for certain emergency. The crop losses were estimated at $1.5 billion. At
least 197communities and rural water districts in Kansas had voluntary or mandatory
restrictions on water use as drought and high demand depleted public water supplies and
challenged treatment and distribution. Mandatory restrictions were placed on water right
holders junior to minimum desirable streamflow (MDS) in as many as 17 locations affecting
540 water appropriations. Livestock ponds, feed and pasture were insufficient to meet
needs. Contingencies for feed and water were made available to producers through hay
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