Governor Declares Drought Emergencies

Sun., July 30, 2000

From Staff

Gov. Dirk Kempthorne has declared a drought emergency in Lemhi and Lincoln Counties, due to severely restricted water supplies for irrigators.

“These declarations will give irrigators the ability to find replacement water, and they will allow the Idaho Department of Water Resources to work with local officials to minimize the impact of drought,” Kempthorne said.

The declaration brings to five the number of counties this year that have received drought emergency declarations from the governor.

Water conditions in Lemhi County are running well below normal. From April 1 to June 30, flow volume for the Lemhi River near Lemhi was 50 percent of average. In Lincoln County, discharge of the Big Wood River at Hailey in May was 79 percent of the 30-year average volume, and was only 56 percent of the same average in June. In both counties, low-water conditions are being compounded by high winds and high temperatures.

Local journalism is essential.

Give directly to The Spokesman-Review's Northwest Passages community forums series -- which helps to offset the costs of several reporter and editor positions at the newspaper -- by using the easy options below. Gifts processed in this system are tax deductible.

Meet Our Journalists

Jesse Tinsley

Meet Jesse Tinsley. As a certified drone pilot, this veteran Spokesman-Review photographer often can be seen capturing beautiful aerial photographs of our region. Sometimes though, the job requires getting down with the dogs.
Jim Meehan

Jim Meehan is no stranger to Zag Nation. As the lead writer covering the Gonzaga men’s basketball team, he tells the stories behind the game and gets fans a bit closer to their favorite players.
Molly Quinn

There is no artist in Spokane like Molly Quinn. Her whimsical style is instantly recognizable to readers of The Spokesman-Review. She has painted gorgeous illustrations that instantly elevate the journalism accompanying it. She brings to life the stories that defy photography. She makes our pages better.
Rob Curley

Spokesman-Review editor Rob Curley loves to talk with people and learn about their lives, whether it's a best-selling author or a stranger he meets downtown on his walk to lunch. It's that inquisitive nature combined with a playful sense of storytelling that helps make our newspaper different than most.

Governor Declares Drought Emergencies

Jesse Tinsley

Jim Meehan

Molly Quinn

Rob Curley

64-year-old man dies in Shoshone County crash

FBI vows ‘thorough investigation’ after deadly shooting at In-N-Out in Twin Falls

This day in history: Spotlight on Wallace, a town 'on the upswing' in 1976