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

TO: South Carolina State Drought Response Committee Members and Invited Participants

FROM: Alfred H. Vang, Deputy Director

DATE: March 21, 2002

SUBJECT: Drought Meeting, Thursday, March 28, 2002, 11:00 a.m.

The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) will convene the State Drought Response Committee on Thursday, March 28, 2002, at 11:00 a.m. The meeting will be held at our new office, 2221 Devine Street, Suite 222 in Columbia.

The committee issued a continuation of the "moderate" drought declaration for the entire state on September 11, 2001. Moderate drought is the second drought level. Throughout the winter most locations received below normal precipitation. March rainfall is only slightly and temporarily improving streamflow. Forty-three percent of South Carolina's monitored streams are at record low levels. There is also growing concern due to the Climate Prediction Center's long-lead outlook calling for below normal precipitation through June.

SCDNR is convening the State Agency Committee and several invited federal participants to discuss the current situation and expectations for the spring and summer.

We encourage all members to review the current precipitation, streamflow, and drought index material available on the South Carolina Drought Information Web site: http://www.dnr.state.sc.us/climate/sco/drought.html.

I look forward to seeing you or your representative at the meeting.

AHV: hm

cc: Hope Mizzell, South Carolina Drought Response Program Coordinator