(Dodge City, KS) (westernkansasnews.com)

While Dodge City received over one and a quarter inch of rain this week, the area remains in a long term drought.  Accordingly, Dodge City leaders are encouraging residents to conserve water usage.  Public Information Officer Jane Longmeyer says recommended conservation measures include:  adjusting sprinklers so only the lawn is watered and not the sidewalk or street; watering the lawn and garden in the morning or evening when temperatures are cooler to minimize evaporation; and adjusting the lawn mower to a higher setting as a taller lawn-shades roots and holds soil moisture better than if it is closely clipped.

Longmeyer adds that more helpful water saving hints can be found online at http://wateruseitwisely.com/100-ways-to-conserve/.