Navajo Nation President Ben Shelly declared a state of emergency due to drought conditions across the reservation.

Precipitation levels on some parts of the reservation are 65 percent and 63 percent below normal. Conditions have gotten worse as temperatures rise.

“We recognize that much of our land is dry, our wells aren’t producing water like they have in the past, and now we must do what we can to help our people who are suffering in these dry conditions,” Shelly said in a press release.

The US Drought Monitor shows Exceptional, Extreme and Severe drought conditions on the reservation, which spans Arizona, New Mexico and Utah.

Get the Story:
Navajo Nation declares drought emergency (AP 7/3)
Navajo Nation suffers through drought (KJZZ 7/2)