Georgia is still in a historic drought. With the state entering the hot season, and winter rains failing to replenish many of the states northern reservoirs, the chance to undo last years water loss is almost gone.
Overall, the states water levels look a lot like they did this time last year - when Georgians were told the state was entering into extreme drought - and then just months later, metro Atlanta was counting down the days till they ran out of water entirely.
And now, State Climatologist, David Stooksbury says the outlook for this year’s hot season is the same:
"Being that we are starting at very low levels already across much of the state, the conditions will slowly worsen, even if we have normal rain fall through October."
Stookesbury says South Georgia is looking a little better - not as dry as it has been in the past but could see drought conditions within a month. For North Georgia, Lake Lanier, unlike last year, is starting at a deficit, and Lake Allatoona- it filled quickly, but loses water just as fast.
New water-operating plan
The Army Corps of Engineers’ current operating plan is, when there’s more water, store it rather than send to Florida. But with a dry forecast on the horizon, the gates will likely open to send it downstream, spelling bad news for Lake Lanier and West Point Lake.
To help Lake Lanier, the EPD announced last week that it will probably try to extend a March plan to refill it. In that plan, Peachtree Creek's flow was reduced to refill the basin, however a concern over what that does to water quality for the wildlife habitat requires further study.
The Corps' operating plan also brings back "ramping rates," which allow releases to be brought up and down slowly to accommodate slow-moving mussels as they get up and down their habitats.
