Drought Impacts and Data Used in Kansas Susan Stover, LG Kansas Water Office Southern Plains Drought Assessment November 29, 2011

Kansas Water Office Roles Planning KansasWaterOffice Water Supply Coordination Drought Response Team

Source of Water- Ground vs Surface

Average Reported Use Made of Water

Kansas Drought Mitigation - Water Supply

Drought Term Permits

8

Drought began in SW Kansas

And Crept Across the State

Stream and Reservoir Impacts

West to East Kansas has Different Issues to Manage

Information Sources Used Weekly Drought Monitor – national, regional and state level Weekly Drought Monitor – national, regional and state level Precipitation and Percent of Normal Precipitation and Percent of Normal Seasonal Drought Outlook Seasonal Drought Outlook Streamflows – USGS Stream Gages Streamflows – USGS Stream Gages Reservoir Levels – USGS Gages Reservoir Levels – USGS Gages

Other Sources Considered State Climatologist State Climatologist Vegetative Health - KU KARS, KSU Vegetative Health - KU KARS, KSU USDA County Disaster Declarations USDA County Disaster Declarations Feedback from stakeholders (livestock watering problems) and Ks Dept of Wildlife,Parks and Tourism (fish kills, bird deaths) Feedback from stakeholders (livestock watering problems) and Ks Dept of Wildlife,Parks and Tourism (fish kills, bird deaths) Communities experiencing shortages Communities experiencing shortages CoCoRas CoCoRas

Long Term Data Needs Support for Stream Gages Support for Stream Gages Current and expansion Current and expansion More river forecast information on low flows More river forecast information on low flows Good information on flood stages Good information on flood stages Weather Stations Weather Stations State is losing funding State is losing funding Climate Change Projections Climate Change Projections long and intermediate term long and intermediate term

Kansas Water Office THANK YOU 16