The Drought is Finally Over!

The state's worst dry spell in the last century has finally ended. Thanks to the second wettest spring in more than a hundred and ten years, the drought which has gripped parts of Georgia since summer 2006 has is finally over.

But more importantly say state officials, Georgia has returned to rainfall patterns recorded in the early part of the century. However, even with rivers flowing and reservoirs at or near capacity, all that good news is tempered with a bit of caution.

State climatologist David Stooksbury.

"There's been this perception that we've had this tremendous amount of rainfall over the last six months. In reality, we've had near normal rainfall over much of north Georgia. I think the fact that it’s been so dry, we have forgotten what normal rainfall is like. Now, South Georgia has been extremely wet and there are allot of fields sitting in water still in South Georgia. But here in North Georgia, the Athens area, the Atlanta area, near normal for the last six months."

At the height of the drought, lawmakers passed House Bill 1281, enacting tough water restrictions. Residents exceeded expectations cutting back water consumption by 10 percent. Five percent more than was called for.

Carol Couch heads Georgia Environmental Protection Division.

"Georgians did more than simply follow some state rule. At the end of the day, we cannot simply explain this consistent decrease in water use through this period by regulation alone. To me, it is a tribute to every Georgian in the 55 county area that chose to do the right thing."

The timing of the drought happened at the same time the country's economy hit the skids. And that hit Georgia's 8 billion landscape industry squarely in the pocket.

Sherry Loudermilk is executive director of Georgia's Green Industry Association.

"We lost about thirty five percent of our industry. And it’s been very difficult. There have been many who have hung on and some have just gone out of business this past spring. its been very difficult in most of our industry is still family oriented and if there were employees there, they were like family and having to terminate those people has been very difficult."

With the recent drenching things may be looking up for nurseries.

Jeff Hunter is a spokesperson for one of the nation’s largest …. Pike Nurseries. He’s says the slow economy has more people looking to save water and money.

"There's been an upturn in the past couple of years of rain harvesting, you know rain barrels, drip irrigation and more conservation of water. So it’s helped with new techniques anyway."

Last year, the Georgia legislature passed a measure establishing a study committee dedicated to formulating a statewide water plan.

Former Lt. Governor Pier Howard says now it’s up to the next administration to develop a long range conservation plan Georgians can live with. Howard now heads The Georgia Conservancy.

"I think what Georgia needs going forwards is an overall policy. We need input from all the different sectors. We need all the voices at the table, but we need a new policy in Georgia for water efficiency and water conservation."

Wet March Rolls Back Some Drought In State

A series of rainy days in March has brought the state enough widespread relief to significantly ease drought conditions in Georgia.

State climatologist David Stooksbury says because of an unusually wet month, north Georgia has seen the most benefit, and he’s reclassified conditions in the region:

"Either totally out of the drought, or abnormally dry. The exeption is the Hartwell and Lanier basins in north and east Georgia. Both of those basins are classified as being in moderate drought."

And still, Lanier has rebounded well in only a few months time. From a level of 20 feet below full pool in early-December, the north Georgia reservoir is now only 10 feet under full pool.

Stooksbury says much of south Georgia remains in moderate drought. But, the region within the last week got a heavy dose of rain--the southwest corner especially with 5-7 inches.

As for rivers and streams in Georgia, some flood warnings remain in place, such as for the Ocmulgee, Flint, and Oconee.

And there is more rain forecast for the state starting on Tuesday night.

Climatologist: Ga. Drought Conditions Are Back

Drought conditions have returned to much of Georgia, and the state's climatologist is warning it could get worse.

State climatologist David Stooksbury said Wednesday that drought has returned to many parts of the state that had emerged from dry conditions last year, including swaths of south Georgia. Some 102 counties are in moderate drought, and parts of northeast Georgia are still mired in "severe" and "extreme" conditions.

Stooksbury says most of the state has received less than half of normal rain over the last 30 days. He says that unless the state receives significant rain through April the state "is primed for another year of drought."

(AP)

Drought worsening across state

The designation of 'exceptional' drought has returned to northeast Georgia, while the southeast portion of the state has now slipped into drought. A new report from the state’s climatologist says some scattered, strong thunderstorms during July brought only localized relief to areas. The ‘exceptional’ category--drought conditions seen only once in 50 to 100 years--is now in place for 16 northeast Georgia counties. ‘Extreme’ drought conditions still exist for 13 north Georgia counties. David Stooksbury is Georgia’s climatologist.

"What we can expect as the summer continues is at least continued slow dropping of water levels across the state, unless we have a series of tropical weather events".

Stooksbury says even the six counties of coastal Georgia are classified as ‘abnormally dry’.

Georgia Drought Update

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.

Georgia's Drought: Update

Much of Georgia is still in an historic drought. With the state entering the hot season, and winter rains having failed to replenish many of the state's northern reservoirs, the chance to undo last year's water loss is almost gone.

Over all, 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's was counting down the days till they ran out of water entirely.

State Climatologist, David Stookesbury said the outlook for this year’s hot season is the same.

"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," said Stookesbury.

Stookesbury said South Georgia is looking a little better but could see drought conditions within a month. For North Georgia, Lake Lanier, unlike last year, is starting at a deficit and Lake Allatoona- while it fills quickly, also looses water just as fast.

Statewide drought continues, could worsen

Although some parts of the state have been inundated with wet weather lately, this year's drought continues. Throughout the state, severe or extreme drought conditions persist.

Experts say there's been enough rain to make neighborhood lawns look good. But, statewide, rainfall is still below normal. In some places up to eight inches below normal, for this time of year. And, without a surplus of ground and river water, what little relief recent rains have provided, will quickly dry up as we move into August.

State climatologist David Stooksberry predicts weeks of hot, dry weather with no relief in sight for the very near future.

"What's its going to take is an extended period, and I mean many months of normal to above normal rainfall," said Stooksberry. "Unfortunately, that probably means it will be this winter before we have any chance of pulling out of the drought."

Looking ahead, Stooksberry said long range forecasts indicate a dry warm winter 2007. He said any storms Georgia does get during the winter months will do little to relieve the drought as 2008 approaches.