(Bannock County Board of Commissioners Press Release, May 25, 2022)
BANNOCK COUNTY, Idaho – On Thursday, May 19, the Bannock County Board of Commissioners, in cooperation with the Bannock County Office of Emergency Management, officially declared a drought emergency in Bannock County. (To see the declaration, click here.)
Due to below normal snowpack in the Snake River Basin, and a low water supply, the cumulative snow water equivalent levels are suggesting that many Southern Idaho reservoirs will not fill, or reach their capacity this year.
The streamflow forecasted in Idaho suggests that it is between 25 and 75 percent of its median levels which will affect commerce in Bannock County. Producers, farmers, and ranchers may be at risk for significant economic losses due to drought-like conditions.
Farm operators are eligible to be considered for assistance from the Farm Service Agency (FSA), which includes emergency loans. Farmers in eligible counties have eight months to apply for emergency loans. Local FSA offices can provide affected farmers with more information. A list of FSA county offices can be found here.
On April 18, the United States Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack, designated Bannock County as a contiguous disaster area because of the county’s proximity to Franklin and Oneida counties, which were named as primary disaster areas due to drought conditions.
The emergency drought declaration will remain in effect until further notice. The Bannock County Office of Emergency Management will continue to monitor the region’s drought status.
