Drought

Participants Will Learn About New Technologies for Long-Term Water Savings

12/11/2007 -- Raleigh - North Carolina Governor Mike Easley announced today the state will host a conference to highlight the latest technologies and programs to help North Carolina communities reduce water use on a strategic, long-term basis. The conference, set for Friday Dec. 14, is sponsored by the State Energy Office in the Department of Administration and the Division of Pollution Prevention and Environmental Assistance in the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.    » read more »

December 5, 2007 -- Carson City— Nevada Governor Jim Gibbons announced today that his request for a Secretarial Disaster Designation from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has been granted for the entire State of Nevada.

On October 16, 2007, Governor Gibbons and the Nevada State Department of Agriculture sent a letter to Acting Secretary for the USDA Charles F. Conner, requesting federal assistance for the State of Nevada due to losses caused by drought and wildfires.    » read more »

12/4/2007 -- Raleigh - North Carolina Governor Mike Easley today presented a plan that was approved by the Council of State to provide up to $3.5 million to get hay for drought-stricken farmers who are running out of feed for their cattle and horses. The plan will provide money to purchase hay from other states, transport it to North Carolina in the most efficient way and sell it to farmers at the lowest cost possible.    » read more »

Drought Map Shows Drought Spreading and Getting Worse Throughout November

11/23/2007 -- Raleigh - North Carolina Governor Mike Easley today called on residents across the state to continue conserving water in spite of the forecast for rain this weekend. The federal drought map released Thursday shows exceptional drought has returned to more than half of the state due to the lack of rain since October.    » read more »

Local restrictions may still apply, caution is urged

November 15, 2007 -- RICHMOND – Virginia Governor Timothy M. Kaine today announced that the statewide ban on open burning has been lifted, effective immediately. The ban was instituted October 19, 2007 when weather conditions across the Commonwealth pushed the drought and wildland fire indices into the dangerous range. Local burning restrictions may still apply, and anyone planning to burn should check with their local fire department and/or fire marshal’s office before proceeding.    » read more »

Michigan farmers now eligible for low-interest emergency loans

November 14, 2007 -- WASHINGTON – Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., today made the following statement regarding the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s announcement that all 83 counties in Michigan have been designated a disaster area due to losses resulting from a severe drought that began in April:    » read more »

Fallowing Project Is An Immediate, Emergency Response; More Is Needed

November 8, 2007 -- By Idaho Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter

Magic Valley farmers have an emergency on their hands. They need more water than is likely to be available for their crops next year. The realities of financing and preparation mean they must decide now about what to plant, or whether to plant at all.    » read more »

November 2, 2007 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – After months of severe drought in Southeast Missouri, farmers can finally look forward to some relief. U.S. Senators Christopher “Kit” Bond and Claire McCaskill announced today that the United States Department of Agriculture designated 22 counties in the state of Missouri as primary natural disaster areas and an additional eight neighboring counties as contiguous disaster counties. Farmers in all 30 counties are eligible for disaster relief assistance in the form of low-interest emergency loans from the Farm Service Agency (FSA).    » read more »

October 31, 2007 -- MADISON – Wisconsin Governor Doyle’s announced today that his August 13th request for a disaster declaration resulting from this summer’s drought conditions was approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.    » read more »

Drought Map Shows Some Improvement But Drought is Far From Over

11/1/2007 -- Raleigh - North Carolina Governor Mike Easley today called on all citizens, including those who rely on private wells, to continue their water conservation efforts even though last week’s rains lessened the severity of drought throughout much of North Carolina. Last week’s rainfall, which dropped up to six inches in parts of the state and only one inch in others, helped many parched wells, reservoirs and streams.    » read more »

Calls on Localities to Update Drought Contingency Plans; Warns that drought conditions could become acute in the spring of 2008 if lack of rain continues

October 30, 2007 -- RICHMOND – Virginia Governor Timothy M. Kaine today urged localities to update water conservation and drought contingency ordinances and plans and begin preparations to implement those plans. The Governor also encouraged citizens and businesses to strictly follow all calls for water conservation issued by public waterworks or local governments.    » read more »

Outdoor burning laws still apply through Dec. 31

Oct. 25, 2007 -- CHARLESTON -- Due to recent rainfall across the state, West Virginia Governor Joe Manchin has rescinded the outdoor burning ban, effective at 5 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 25.

“Ample amounts of rainfall have alleviated the extreme forest fire danger the state faced last week,” Manchin said. “Fall is still a very dangerous time for forest fires, and I encourage everyone to continue to be very careful when using fire outdoors.”    » read more »

Signs executive order to expedite delivery of hay, other relief supplies

October 24, 2007 -- FRANKFORT, Ky. – In a further action to help farmers survive Kentucky’s exceptional drought conditions, Kentucky Governor Ernie Fletcher has issued an executive order directing the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet to waive all fees normally associated with intrastate and interstate transportation of agricultural relief supplies. The order will help put the delivery of hay and other vital supplies on a fast track to the state’s livestock producers.    » read more »

Governor Announces Executive Order to Reduce State Government Water Consumption

October 24, 2007 -- WEST POINT, Ga. – Today atop closed boat ramps on the shores of West Point Lake, Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue called for state agencies to lead by example and reduce water consumption by 10 to 15 percent at state owned facilities. Through an executive order Governor Perdue also directed the Department of Natural Resources to develop a water conservation implementation plan including benchmarks, goals and practices to achieve demonstrable water conservation.    » read more »

EPD to direct permit holders to reduce withdrawals by 10 percent compared to last winter

October 23, 2007 -- ATLANTA - Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue today directed the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) to modify current surface water and groundwater withdrawal and drinking water permits to achieve a 10 percent reduction in withdrawals for permit holders in the 61 North Georgia counties covered under the Level 4 drought designation.    » read more »