Gov. Rhoden Activates Task Force For South Dakota Drought Issues

Extremely dry conditions in a number of different South Dakota counties have prompted the Governor to take action.

Governor Larry Rhoden has activated the state Drought Task Force to monitor drought conditions across the state. The task force will hold its first meeting on Thursday (May 7th).

According to the information released by the U.S. Drought Monitor, moderate to extreme drought conditions are present throughout the lower third of South Dakota, with abnormally dry conditions across central parts of the state.

U.S. Drought Monitor

All or parts of ten different countries have been designated as D3, which is the 'Extreme Drought' category:

Bon Homme
Bennett
Charles Mix
Custer
Fall River
Gregory
Jackson
Oglala Lakota
Pennington
Yankton

Typical D3 conditions include:

Burn bans begin
Deer and pheasant populations are low
Producers haul water for cattle and provide supplemental feeding; cattle sales increase
River flow in major rivers is low; small surface water bodies are dry
Row crop loss is significant

Because of the dry conditions, the public is urged to use caution with open burns and other activities that could start fires.

The Drought Task Force coordinates the exchange of drought-related information among government agencies and partners to assess potential impacts on agriculture, fire management, and water supplies. It also monitors drought conditions, assesses drought severity, evaluates impacts, and reviews available drought-response resources.

State agencies represented on the Drought Task Force include the Governor’s Office, Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Department of Public Safety, Department of Game, Fish and Parks, South Dakota National Guard, Department of Social Services, Department of Tourism, and the Department of Tribal Relations. Additional partners include USDA’s Farm Service Agency and Natural Resource Conservation Service, South Dakota State University Extension and School of Mines climatologists, the National Weather Service, and South Dakota Rural Water.

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