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State Drought Response Committee Upgrades South Carolina to 'Severe' Status |
The state and local representatives from the Drought Response Committee
decided September 5, 2007 that conditions have continued to
deteriorate. The Committee upgraded the drought level to severe for all
counties except Beaufort and Jasper. Drought levels are declared in
four stages from incipient to moderate, severe followed by extreme.
The state has been under a moderate drought declaration since June 6,
2007.
According to Hope Mizzell, SC State Climatologist, there was general
consensus that most counties should be upgraded based on the drought
impact to agriculture, forestry, and hydrology. Beaufort and Jasper
were excluded due the heavy rainfall received over the past two weeks.
There was also discussion about the potential rainfall from the
low-pressure system off the coast; however, the committee agreed they
could not make a drought declaration based off a forecast. The
committee will closely monitor the system and if significant rain is
received and conditions improve in areas they will reconvene. Likewise
local committee members recognized that some indicators supported an
extreme declaration for portions of the upstate and this would also be
monitored closely.
While there is no recommendation for mandatory water restrictions from
the SC Drought Response Committee there may be restrictions that result
from local water system ordinances going to the severe level. The
committee does hope the upgrade will increase awareness and water
systems and industries are encouraged to closely monitor conditions and
implement their local drought plans as needed.
For more information about drought, visit the Office of State
Climatology Web site at http://www.dnr.sc.gov/climate/sco/ or contact
State Climatologist Hope Mizzell at (803) 734-9568 in Columbia.
Forestry and agriculture had reports of increasing concern about
conditions. According to David Tompkins with the S.C. Department of
Agriculture, "I've talked to a lot of people around the state, and few
have received adequate moisture. Especially hard hit have been soybeans
and cotton. Livestock producers are concerned about the lack of feed
and forage going into winter. We've got to get a long period of normal
rainfall to get back where we need to be."
Darryl Jones, Forest Protection Chief with the S.C. Forestry Commission
stated, "The prolonged dry weather has negatively impacted forest
resources in the state. In July and August, the SC Forestry Commission
responded to 518 wildfires that burned more than 2,730 acres.
Wildfire occurrence in July and August is typically very low. Fires
have burned more intensely, requiring more personnel and equipment to
control, and the high temperatures have made it much harder on our
firefighters. Without widespread rainfall, the fall wildfire season,
which typically occurs in October and November, has the potential to be
very active.
State Hydrologist Bud Badr reported all lake levels are below normal
(except Lake Murray, which is slightly above normal). Badr reports 12
of 17 drought-monitoring stations around the state are in a drought
category with two in Severe and ten in Extreme. David Baize with S.C.
Department of Health and Environmental Control reported that his agency
has received reports of 15 water systems with water restrictions in
place. Ten are reporting voluntary restrictions with five reporting
mandatory.
Power generating facilities have implemented their federally approved
drought protocols and plans. Water suppliers have also implemented
local drought measures. "The SC Drought Response Committee's decision
demonstrates that coordination and consistency between local, state,
and federal drought response is important for effective drought
planning and management," said Steve de Kozlowski of the S.C.
Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Interim Deputy Director.
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