Current Region Drought Status
Virginia Drought Advisory Released November 17, 2011 The Virginia Drought Monitoring Task Force (DMTF) issued an updated Drought Status Report on November 17, 2011, which can be found here. Currently, there are no localities in the Commonwealth experiencing Drought Watch, Drought Warning, or Drought Emergency conditions based on the Virginia Drought Assessment and Response Plan drought indicators. Drought StagesThe DMTF uses four drought indicators when making a recommendation concerning the declaration of a particular drought stage: precipitation deficits, streamflows, ground water levels, and reservoir levels. For the purpose of implementation of the Drought Response Plan, the Commonwealth has been divided into thirteen drought evaluation regions. Drought EmergencyDrought emergency responses are generally responses that are required during the height of a significant drought event. During these times, it is likely that some water supplies will not supply the amount of water needed by all users and non-essential uses of water should be eliminated. Mandatory water conservation requirements contained in water conservation and contingency plans should be initiated at this stage. Mandatory water conservation activities generally result in water use reductions of 10-15%.Recommended responses for a Drought Emergency can be found here. Drought WarningDrought warning responses are generally responses that are required when the onset of a significant drought event is imminent. Water conservation and contingency plans that have been prepared during a drought watch stage would begin to be implemented. From the perspective of the Commonwealth, water conservation activities at this stage would generally be voluntary. Voluntary water conservation activities generally result in reductions in water use of 5-10%.Recommended responses for a Drought Warning can be found here.
Drought WatchDrought Watch responses are generally responses that are intended to increase awareness in the public and private sector to climatic conditions that are likely to precede the occurrence of a significant drought event. During this drought stage, the primary activities that are suggested are to prepare for the onset of a drought event. It is unlikely that significant water use reductions will occur at this stage, although it is possible that the increased public awareness of water conservation activities may reduce water use up to 5%. Recommended responses for a Drought Watch can be found here.
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Drought Warning
Drought Watch
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