Recent rains have certainly improved conditions around Kansas, but water experts warn that the drought is far from broken across Kansas.
Conditions this summer were severe enough to impact most of the state, according to information from the Kansas Water Office.
KWO noted several indicators of how serious the drought has been in the state, including:
• The U.S. Drought Monitor indicates 75 percent of Kansas effected by some level of drought early this month, compared to 70 percent at the end of July.
• The southern half of the state had below normal stream flow (24 percent or less).
• Orders for the cessation of diversion under 160 water rights/permits in the Neosho and Cottonwood basins were effective Aug. 6.
• Water use restrictions were reported in place by the cities of Butler, in Reno County, Cimarron, in Gray County, Lakin, in Kearny County, Gardner, in Johnson County, Independence, in Montgomery County, Wichita. in Sedgwick County, and Dickinson County Rural Water District 2.
The Chisholm Creek Utility Authority in Sedgwick County and Butler Rural Water District 4 initiated voluntary conservation measures. CCUA is owned by and serves the cities of Park City and Bel Aire.