Drought

We've had a wet spring, and some late snow showers in Kansas.  But even with all of that moisture, the state is still in a drought. Most areas are still up to ten inches short on water. Starting May 5th, Eyewitness News Reporter Anne Meyer will break down the numbers and see how much rain our area still needs to be drought-free. She'll also look at the impact the drought has had on agriculture and recreational activities. Plus she'll also bring us tips on how to save more water at your home.

Recent rains have helped, but this summer's drought has kept foundation and basement repair companies busy.  From basement walls to sinking driveways and sidewalks, the drought is pushing concrete to its limit. "Because of the dry weather and soil shrinking up we have some areas we've never worked on before that are now settling," said Jeb Fairchild with AAA Basement and Foundation.  He says the drought is keeping him busier than ever.  Not only does he have new jobs, but jobs he's going back to jobs he did earlier this summer that are suffering because of the weather.

The latest numbers put the loss from drought in Kansas at nearly 2 billion dollars with 85 percent of the state in some sort of drought. And as bad as it is, researchers say they have new evidence of long-ago droughts-in one case, a drought lasting five decades. The new information comes from the study of tree rings. You can read about it here from the Los Angles Times.

Western Kansas was once again hit with a dry summer…one where extreme heat kept the rain away. Water wells in towns like Otis are said to be very low because of the lack of rain. Officials are now asking anybody that lives in the drought affected area to do their best to conserve water. In the town of Beaver, a small restaurant known as “Mo's” is doing all they can to help the conservation process. "We have to be careful to conserve as much water as possible," says owner Leonard Moeder.

Despite a long drought, this year's apple harvest is expected to be sweeter than ever.  Lower water levels make apples retain more sugar.  And more sugar means sweeter apples. "The apples are a little smaller this year than they have been before but they will taste better then any apple you have ever eaten," said orchard owner Charles Robertsonm. Apple farmers also say a warmer spring has lead to an earlier apple season.  They're blooming about three weeks ahead of schedule.

Winter weather is expected to return to Kansas over the weekend, but that didn't stop garden enthusiasts from thinking about spring. The Sedgwick County Extension office offered a lawn and garden seminar Saturday. Gardeners learned tricks of the trade to get the biggest bloom for their buck. But the drought may hinder their efforts. "It is tough on landscapes and plants in gardens," Said Marcia Badee. "We'll have to learn to conserve water and mulch. Mulch will improve retention.

Kansas Citians 30 and under must be getting tired of listening to parents and grandparents talk about the good old days when the Royals were competitive. With 96 losses in 2010, the Royals finished last for the sixth time in 10 years. Their postseason drought, dating to the 1985 World Series, reached a quarter-century. This was a season when manager Trey Hillman got fired and general manager Dayton Moore wept at the announcement. It was also a season when reigning Cy Young winner Zack Greinke was 10-14 with a 4.17 ERA and complained about the organization.

Kansas Governor Sam Brownback issued today a State of Disaster Emergency and drought warnings and watches related to the extreme dry weather conditions in Southwest and Western Kansas. “While rainfall has been adequate for some parts of our state, there are many counties, especially in southwest Kansas, experiencing drought conditions and a high risk of fire hazards,” Governor Brownback said. The disaster declaration is for Stevens and Haskell Counties who were affected by a grassfire on Sunday.  The fire burned approximately 9,600 acres and damaged public infrastructure in both counties, including four bridges.

The last time the Kansas City Chiefs won a preseason game their coach was Herm Edwards and their president was George W. Bush. The Chiefs, in fact, are the only team in the NFL that does not have a single preseason win since 2008. Getting ready for their final tuneup game this Thursday night against Green Bay, they are in danger of dragging an 0-4 preseason mark into the regular season for the second straight year. But in a 20-17 loss to Philadelphia last Saturday night, the Chiefs' starters did outscore the Eagles' starters.

It's the kind of rain we've been hoping for. But two soggy days didn't change how dry Wellington City Lake is looking. "It certainly didn't. We're still in the phase that we need to watch it and we need to monitor it very closely," explains Gus Collins, Wellington City Manager. The lake hit a record last month, and not a good one. At one point it was more than six feet below where it should be. This week's rain only boosted it up three inches. "Is it enough? Certainly we don't think so. So we're still hoping for the best.

A broken pipe leaking water for more than a week has been fixed, after an eighth grader called out the City of Wichita. Public works officials fixed the problem in Eastborough Thursday after a story that aired on Eyewitness News. Alan King, director of public works, apologized for sending mixed messages to the public. "In this drought, there are other consequences for allowing water to run free beyond the economic considerations," King said. "That is the message it sends our customers to conserve water.

Clogged drains kept plumbers all around the city busy Thursday after more than 2 inches of rain fell. "A lot of it is from the trees, the leaves, the sand, the dirt. No rain, volume of rain in the last 2 years," said Roto Rooter plumber Brian Boscaino. The drought made things worse for businesses and homes when showers returned. Leaves and sand built up inside drains. "You can't stop the water. Once it starts coming, if you can't get the drain open, you're talking damage," said Boscaino.

  Recent rains in the area mean good things for Kansas Reservoirs. Cheney Reservoir has gained 9 inches since Wednesday night and park officials believe that number will go up. “Sounds like we will have some more rain coming in later today and with that rain and the rain that came early this morning, we are expecting the lake to come up hopefully a couple feet,” said Ryan Stucky, Regional Manager for Kansas Wildlife and Parks. Stucky said at one point Thursday water was flowing it over 7,000 cubic feet per second when just a day before it wasn't flowing at all. “And what that tells us is when we get flows like that coming in, we're going to start raising at a fairly decent level,” said Stucky.

Kansas farmlands were scorched last summer by extreme heat, and no moisture. There were massive crop losses and ranchers had to sell off herds due to rising costs of feed and water. This spring, the rains have returned. But it may be too late to help your next grocery bill. "You come on out in the wheat and there is good moisture," said Sumner County Farmer Scott Van Allen. Van Allen likes what he sees this season. Timely rains have kept his 2,500 acres of wheat healthy so far, much different than last spring.

Recent rains have helped fill up Kansas rivers and back yard ponds, but it's only making a dent in our ongoing drought. This week, much of the state is still experiencing extreme to exceptional drought conditions. Click here to see US Drought Monitor The Arkansas River is full again and flowing strong. A few people kayaking were on the water Sunday, something that hasn't been possible in months due to dry conditions. They can thank a wet spring for some of that extra water.

We've had a wet spring, and some late snow showers in Kansas.  But even with all of that moisture, the state is still in a drought. Most areas are still up to ten inches short on water. Starting May 5th, Eyewitness News Reporter Anne Meyer will break down the numbers and see how much rain our area still needs to be drought-free. She'll also look at the impact the drought has had on agriculture and recreational activities. Plus she'll also bring us tips on how to save more water at your home.

The City of Wichita wants your input on dealing with drought conditions in the region. The city scheduled six public meetings for mid-April. Officials say the Wichita region is in its third year of a prolonged drought, and there's no indication of when it will let up. The city says the hot, dry weather since 2011 has depleted the City's water supply. Cheney Reservoir, which supplies Wichita with about 60% of its supply, is expected to cease yielding drinking water in August 2015 - if weather conditions and water usage do not change.

A few snowstorms and a little rain have helped. But most of Kansas remains in extreme to exceptional drought, according to the latest figures from the National Weater Service and U.S. Department of Agriculture. At Cheney Reservoir, boating enthusiasts say the water level has risen about six inches, but that's not nearly enough to get most sailboats or jet skis on the water. "I've never seen it this bad," says Kent Carter. He's sailed at Cheney for more than 30 years. The sailing docks he's come to know so well have weeds growing out from the dry ground surrounding them.

Docks still sit flat on the ground and culverts are filled with dirt at Cheney Lake. But the lingering drought conditions have not scared potential boat buyers. More than 125 vendors packed the Kansas Pavilions for the Kansas Sports, Boat and Travel show. For more than 50 years, the show is known for showcasing the newest and flashiest boats on the market. Despite fears that the on-going drought would discourage people from buying boats, some dealers say sales have remained steady.