The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) announced on April 18 that Prince George County is now under a drought warning advisory, as part of a wider expansion that places all localities in the state under either drought watch or warning advisories.
This development comes after below-normal precipitation and declining soil moisture across the Commonwealth, raising concerns about agricultural impacts and wildfire risks. The DEQ said the move aligns with U.S. Department of Agriculture designations, which may allow affected farmers to seek emergency loans through the Farm Service Agency.
Prince George County joins other counties in the Chowan region placed under a drought warning due to recent dry weather patterns. Streamflow levels have reached record lows in several river basins, while groundwater has also dropped significantly. The DEQ is working with local governments and water utilities to ensure conservation measures are followed, urging residents to minimize water use and repair leaks.
The Prince George County Public Schools District enrolled 6,181 students during the 2023-24 school year, according to the Virginia Department of Education. This represents a 1.2% increase from the previous year’s total enrollment of 6,106 students according to state data. Among its seven schools, Prince George High School had the highest enrollment at 1,818 students for this period as reported by education officials.
Demographically, white students made up the largest ethnic group in county schools during this time with 2,765 students (44.7%), followed by Black students at 1,880 (30.4%) according to enrollment figures. North Elementary School enrolled both the largest number of pre-kindergarten students—46 children representing over a quarter of all pre-K enrollments—and kindergarteners with 119 children accounting for about one-fourth of kindergarten enrollments countywide state data show.
The DEQ advises Virginians supplied by Potomac River systems to consult regional plans for specific guidance on triggers and responses during this period of low rainfall and high temperatures.
