NEWS RELEASE: Drought Advisory Update (corrected map)

Virginia Department of Environmental Quality sent this bulletin at 10/10/2024 05:11 PM EDT

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DEQ.Virginia.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 10, 2024

Contact: Irina Calos
(804) 659-1333
Irina.Calos@deq.virginia.gov

DROUGHT ADVISORY UPDATE

Drought watch advisory lifted for 17 localities in Virginia

Due to recent precipitation from Hurricane Helene, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), in coordination with the Virginia Drought Monitoring Task Force, has lifted drought advisories for 17 localities in Virginia. The drought warning for the Shenandoah region has been downgraded to a watch status and a drought watch advisory still exists in the Northern Virginia region.

Drought watch advisories have been lifted for the following regions:

Big Sandy: Buchanan, Dickenson, Lee, Russell, Scott, Smyth, Tazewell, Washington, and Wise counties
New River: Bland, Carroll, Floyd, Giles, Grayson, Montgomery, Pulaski, and Wythe counties

A drought watch advisory is intended to help Virginians prepare for a potential drought and is in effect for the Northern Virginia (Arlington, Fairfax, Fauquier, Loudoun, and Prince William counties) and Shenandoah (Augusta, Rockingham, Shenandoah, Frederick, Page, Warren, and Clarke counties) regions.

Several factors have contributed to the lifting and downgrading of advisories as well as the maintenance of drought watch advisories in the affected regions. Widespread and heavy precipitation over the past 30 days, notably from Tropical Storm Helene, has led to marked improvements in soil moisture and streamflow across Virginia. Stream flows have returned to normal levels throughout the Commonwealth with all stream gages within the monitoring network currently indicating normal status. Groundwater levels for monitoring wells in the Climate Response Network largely remain below normal and require additional precipitation events to recover over the short and long-term period. While recent precipitation events have resulted in improvements compared to the past 30-day period, groundwater levels in eight evaluation regions remain currently below the 25^th percentile with two regions recording below the 5^th percentile (Shenandoah and York James). Storage at major water supply reservoirs have improved slightly over the past two weeks and remain within normal ranges.

DEQ is working with local governments, public water works, and water users in the affected areas to ensure that conservation and drought response plans and ordinances are followed. Localities and Virginians that are supplied water from the Potomac River should consult the for specific triggers and actions to be taken. All Virginians are encouraged to protect water supplies by minimizing water use, monitoring drought conditions, and detecting and repairing leaks.

See the current drought status on the DEQ website .

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The Department of Environmental Quality protects and enhances Virginia's environment and promotes the health and well being of the citizens of the Commonwealth. We are committed to cleaner water, improved air quality, and the productive re-use of contaminated land.

For more information, please visit www.DEQ.Virginia.gov.

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DEQ does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, disability, age, or sex in administration of its programs or activities, and, DEQ does not intimidate or retaliate against any individual or group because they have exercised their rights to participate in actions protected, or oppose action prohibited, by 40 C.F.R. Parts 5 and 7, or for the purpose of interfering with such rights. Title VI Coordinator Melanie Davenport is responsible for coordination of compliance efforts and receipt of inquiries concerning non-discrimination requirements implemented by 40 C.F.R. Parts 5 and 7 (Non-discrimination in Programs or Activities Receiving Federal Assistance from the Environmental Protection Agency), including Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; the Age Discrimination Act of 1975; Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; and Section 13 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972 (hereinafter referred to collectively as the federal non-discrimination laws). If you have any questions about this notice or any of DEQ's non-discrimination programs, policies or procedures, you may contact: Title VI Coordinator - Melanie Davenport; Virginia Department of Environmental Quality; P.O. Box 1105; Richmond, VA 23218; (804) 698-4000 (phone); (800) 592-5482 (toll-free); Melanie.Davenport@deq.virginia.gov.