Iowa’s top natural resources officer is warning that water usage could be curtailed if drought conditions – severe in some places — worsen later this year.

A Hydrology Working Group formed by his agency and others is monitoring groundwater, surface water and stream flows, Department of Natural Resources Director Chuck Gipp said Wednesday.

“We’ll have to watch that and caution people about water usage when the time comes,” said Gipp, a former lawmaker who met with the House and Senate Natural Resources committees.

Gipp’s goal was not to scare lawmakers or the public, he said, “but we want to caution people that we are still in the middle of a drought, and we have stream segments way below normal flow.”

Are you concerned about possible water restrictions coming later this year? Do you think they’re likely? If so, where should restrictions be imposed first?