South Carolina Drought News Release
South Carolina Department of Natural Resources
Land, Water and Conservation Division
South Carolina Drought Response Program
Department of Natural Resources News (803) 734-4133
SPECIAL NEWS RELEASE #02 - 47 September 24, 2002
MOST OF SOUTH CAROLINA DOWNGRADED TO 'SEVERE' DROUGHT STATUS
After receiving reports of above-average rainfall and
improved agricultural, forestry and hydrologic conditions, the South
Carolina Drought Response Committee voted Sept. 24 in Columbia to
downgrade most of the state from the extreme category to severe.
The 10-county Northeast-Pee Dee Drought Management Area remains
classified in the extreme drought status. Those 10 counties still in
the extreme drought category are Chesterfield, Darlington, Dillon,
Horry, Florence, Kershaw, Lancaster, Lee, Marion and Marlboro.
From most standpoints, we've had a major improvement,
said Freddy Vang, director of the S.C. Department of Natural Resources
(DNR) Land, Water and Conservation Division. We've had significant
rainfall during the past five weeks with more in the forecast, there
has been a major effort on the part of industry to reduce their water
intakes and effluent releases, and there appears to be a general
improvement in agricultural conditions. However, the state's hydrologic
system is far from a complete recovery.
Many areas of the state received significant rainfall between Aug. 20 Sept. 23.
Caesars Head received 19.16 inches, which was more than 12 inches above normal
for that time period, and State Climatologist Milt Brown predicted that more
may be on the way. Tropical storms Lili and Isidore, approaching simultaneously
from the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean, may deliver more rainfall to the
Southeast within the week.
The Northeast-Pee Dee Drought Management Area voted to
remain in the extreme category, according to Mike Hancock, because, We
think it would be irresponsible on our part to decrease the category
when the headwaters in North Carolina are still in as bad a shape as
they are. We wanted to show cooperation and appreciation to the folks
in North Carolina who are working with us in this drought.
Jim Witkowski of International Paper, representing the
Central Drought Management Area, said the group was unanimous in its
decision to downgrade the area to the severe status, but the group also
recommended that all water suppliers maintain their current water
restrictions, and that the group meet again in 30 days if the
approaching tropical weather systems do not deliver rain to South
Carolina.
Witkowski said many industries around the state have put
water conservation plans in place as a result of the drought.
International Paper's Eastover mill has implemented water conservation
measures, among them using processed waste water instead of fresh
water, that are saving four million gallons of water a day compared to
the same time period last year.
Most water suppliers reported at the Sept. 24 Drought
Response Committee meeting that recent rainfalls had improved
conditions around the state. K.C. Price of SJWD, headquartered in the
Upstate, said all the rain allowed his company to ease lawn-watering
restrictions from once a week to every other day.
According to Ken Cabe of the S.C. Forestry Commission, recent rainfall
has reduced wildfire danger considerably across the state. Anyone
planning to burn should use reasonable caution, following all state and
local outdoor burning regulations.
In its U.S. Seasonal Drought Outlook, the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts that major drought
relief is possible for most South Carolina over the upcoming months.
Officials at the meeting emphasized that even though the
state has received recent rainfall and the forecast is optimistic the
state is still in a severe drought situation.
Find out more about the State Climatology Office at http://www.dnr.sc.gov/climate/sco/ or by calling (803) 734-9100.
