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N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – Stutsman County Commission Chairman Mark Klose has followed suite with western North Dakota and has announced a drought emergency for Stutsman County.

The declaration was signed Tuesday, July 25th.

“Since early Spring 2017, Stutsman County has experienced very limited rainfall with some areas approaching six inches below average rainfall and worsening,” Kloses declaration states. “Limited rainfall in some areas has severely stressed/damaged pasture land, crops, feed, and water supplies for livestock to the point where recovery is no longer possible for the 2017 growing season.”

Stutsman County Emergency Manager Jerry Bergquist reports that the declaration also takes into account the heightened potential for rural fires and the adverse economic impacts on Stutsman County’s agribusiness. The dry conditions constitute an eminent threat of unrecoverable losses, damages and hardship to the 2017 growing season.

The declaration can only remain in effect for seven days without approval by the entire County Commission. Continuation of the declaration will be discussed at the regular meeting Tuesday, August 1st.

Below is a photo provided by Medina Fire Chief Brian Rau. The aerial photo shows around 170 acres burned as a result of normal haying operations north of Medinan Saturday, July 22nd.

“Even though there is a lot of green in the photo, underneath it’s very dry and ready to burn,” Bergquist pointed out. “Stutsman County has not yet been in the Very High and/or Extreme Fire Danger Ratings. But, for anyone haying CRP, it would be a good idea to have firefighting tools on hand such as water and a shovel.”

2017 Stutsman County Drought Emergency Declaration