As we approach 40 days with no measurable rainfall, water levels in streams and rivers across eastern Kentucky continue to fall.  That has prompted officials with water companies to keep a close eye on their intake structures.  On Thursday, officials with Southern Water in Floyd County used an excavator to push the intake screens an additional six to eight inches in the water in the Levisa Fork of the Big Sandy River at Allen to ensure there will be no issues with water service due to the drought.  In Pikeville, officials with Utility Management Group say the river level has not fallen to a point where any action is being considered.  UMG officials say they are in contact with the US Army Corps of Engineers at both Flannagan Dam in Virginia and Fishtrap Dam in Pike County to monitor river levels.

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Frankfort, KY — The Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet and the Office of the State Climatologist, in coordination with the Kentucky drought mitigation team, have issued a Level 2 drought declaration for 78 counties and a Level 1 declaration for 42 counties. A Level 2 drought declaration has been issued for areas in eastern, central and parts of western Kentucky and could lead to substantial agricultural losses, diminished stream flows in small streams and rivers and increases in the occurrence of wildfires. If drought conditions persist, it is expected that some water utilities will have difficulties treating water and may begin issuing conservation advisories or implementing water-use restrictions due to limited water supplies. A Level 1 drought declaration has been issued for areas in western and northeastern Kentucky. The Commonwealth has been experiencing unprecedented dryness, with most locations recording little to no precipitation during the month of September. This lack of precipitation, combined with record heat, has led to rapidly deteriorating conditions. The Kentucky Division of Water continues to monitor all the state’s water systems and their sources of supply, including notifying the public of any changes that may lead to water shortages. The forecast shows relief from the record heat beginning later this week, but the long-term outlooks indicates below-normal precipitation for the next 30 days.

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Charleston, WV — West Virginia Governor Jim Justice has declared a state of emergency in response to a worsening drought across that state. The proclamation says a lack of rainfall has caused water levels to run extremely low, increasing the risk of forest fires and other dangers. Justice has ordered the West Virginia emergency Operations Plan to be implemented which means the State Emergency Operations Center is on standby. The proclamation asks West Virginia residents to limit washing or cleaning vehicles and buildings, voluntary cessation on filling private swimming pools and voluntary limitation of use of public drinking water to minimal standards. The entire state has a ban on all outdoor burning.

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