Secretary declares Level 2 drought for Central region; no-flow observations cannot alter perennial stream status

A secretary's declaration issued Sept. 9, 2025, declares the Central region to be in a Level 2 significant drought based on conditions measured as of Aug. 1, 2025.

The update said observations of no flow made after Aug. 1, 2025, for any pending or incoming RDAs, ANRADS or NOIs may not be used to change the status of a perennial river or stream with riverfront area until a Level 0 status is again declared. That restriction applies to administrative determinations tied to those permit or notification categories.

Why this matters: the declaration sets the drought stage for the Central region and establishes a temporary rule about how recent no‑flow observations affect status changes for perennial watercourses. That affects permitting and administrative reviews that rely on flow observations dated after Aug. 1.

The declaration, as read in the public update, links the drought finding to observable conditions through Aug. 1, 2025, and clarifies that later no‑flow readings cannot be used to downgrade a watercourse's perennial status for the specific regulatory categories named. The update did not provide a name for the secretary or identify additional enforcement steps or timelines beyond the requirement that Level 0 status must be declared before the restriction is lifted.

There were no votes or formal board actions recorded in the update; the announcement reflects an administrative declaration rather than a legislative or adjudicative proceeding. The transcript did not state how long the Level 2 designation will remain in effect or whether the declaration triggers additional programmatic responses.

Officials and permit applicants seeking decisions tied to RDAs, ANRADS or NOIs should note that no‑flow observations recorded after Aug. 1, 2025, will not by themselves change the perennial status of a river or stream with riverfront area until the agency issues a Level 0 declaration.