Southeast drought hits crisis point

[Cetacea]

Source: USA Today

The Southeast's worst drought in more than a century is forcing parched states and communities into crisis measures to conserve water and fight for access to more.



A region accustomed to plentiful rain from tropical storms and hurricanes is experiencing its second straight year of less rain in the summer and fall.

"This idea of wait-and-see, because some (rain) might be around the corner, can really suppress timely responses," says Mike Hayes, director of the National Drought Mitigation Center.

Read more: http://www.usatoday.com/weather/news/2007-10-19-drought_N.htm

[napi21]

1. Yea, I know. I live in North Ga. I gotta tell ya, I'm a supporter of the eco

ideas and all, but I live 3 minutes from Lake Lanier, and they're pumping millions of gallons of water out of the Lake to save some mussles in Florida. I have a real problem with that! I can't say that I want any species to disappear, but it does happen in every generation. IMO, the millions of people who depend on Lake Lanier for their water supply for survival are more important that the mussles in Fl. OH YEA, there's that small coal fired power pland in Fl. too that needs lots of water to operate. That's another reason the Army Corps of Engineers claim they have to keep pumping all this water out of the Lake. As much as I detest Sonny Perdu (our Gov), I was glad to hear he's filing suit against the coprs of Engin. to get the courts to force them to stop the pumping!

[tabasco]

11. It was for ten days.

And you don't know Jack Shit about ecosystems.

[gateley]

2. Most of NC is in a an "exceptional drought" situation - the most extreme designation. nt

[lovuian]

3. its Dire

http://youtube.com/watch?v=0k8zkbDAsXI

I can tell people are getting more worried and still the government does nothing but rationing

this is like Katrina

[Name removed]

4. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[depakid]

5. If this turns out to be a long term trend, a lot of folks are going to be changing their ways

Here's a good place to look for ideas:

http://www.harvestingrainwater.com/

[Tyler Durden]

6. Actually, I do have a small amout of sympathy for them.

The people in FLINT however.....

[PetrusMonsFormicarum]

7. My folks=busy ants; their neighbors=clueless grasshoppers

My ma in western NC told me that the neighbors came over the "bury the hatchet" (after some stupid property line dispute years back). The upshot of their move to a peace treaty is that they want my folks to allow their livestock to come over to my folks' farm and graze.

The difference between their farm and my parents'? The neighbors keep most of their acreage mowed and groomed, while next door, my pa keeps most of his land in a near-natural state: diverse wildflower meadows and native tree stands. As a result, their land is dry and resourceless, while my folks' property--while still suffering from drought conditions--is still relatively healthy and vibrant.

[modrepub]

26. The desert southeast

is what my friend is calling it. This is probably just a blip but if there are long-term consequences due to the northern migration of the jet stream due to global warming this bodes badly.

[spinbaby]

8. At least they're getting some rain now

Maybe the weather has broken.

[Tyler Durden]

9. Maybe a Tornado or two as well.

I can dream, can't I?

As a long term Factory Rat up from the ranks, I'm just not feeling to kindly to SCABS at the moment.

On Edit: ESPECIALLY SCABS from states that made George W. Bush possible.

Gloat. Gloat. Gloat.

[mitchum]

13. That must be some particularly bitter...rust that you're chewing on

[tabasco]

14. There's something wrong with you.

You sound like a goddamn freeper.

[TalkingDog]

15. Thanks you. I had a similar thought. But being too polite to say so

I just flipped the bird at my monitor.


My Favorite Master Artist: Karen Parker GhostWoman Studios

[Paladin]

16. That's A Nasty Combination You Have Going There

High-decibel whining about how rough things are in Michigan, and the ugliest, most juvenile sort of schadenfreude about the drought circumstances in the south.

Your snotty little posturings remind me of the endless series of Texas-bashing threads we have to put up with here at DU----blanket trashing of an entire state, while forgetting that over 2.8 million Texans voted for John Kerry. I was one of them.

You remember Texas, don't you? That's where what seemed to be half the population of Michigan moved in the 1980's, the last time your state's economy tanked. Memorable bumpersticker from that era in Houston: "We Don't CARE How They Do It Up North".......

[piedmont]

17. Admit it. You did a happy dance after the SE Asia tsunami, didn't you?

That's one piece of shit attitude you've got there.

[JeanGrey]

18. Hey, Jerk, Michigan got the tornados or did you miss

the weather?

Why do you wish harm on people?

[JeanGrey]

22. Weren't you slammed by twisters yesterday? Thought so.

Be careful wishing ill on others - it usually visits the wisher first.

[RebelOne]

10. It's starting to clear now. I didn't get much rain

where I live in North Georgia just northwest of Atlanta.

[spinbaby]

12. The rest of Georgia looks pretty wet

No consolation to you, I'm sure, but hopefully you'll stay in the pattern where moisture gets sucked up out of the gulf.

I'm in southwestern PA--dry, but not quite as dry as you are. Our last two rain events got us all of 0.2 inches of rain. Next possible rain is on Tuesday.

[knowledgeispwr]

19. Missed out in NC

Most of the state got less than .25" of rain with this storm system. Too many municipalities are dragging their feet with water restrictions. Cities like Raleigh and Greensboro barely have a 3-month supply of water (and both are in the most severe drought category: exceptional).

It's time for Gov. Easley to force the entire state to go on water conservation measures.

[young_at_heart]

20. Here in Western NC things are really bad

We hear about it in the news constantly but nothing much is happening. Yesterday we finally had some rain, but it didn't help at all.

[Greylyn58]

21. We got some rain here in Charlotte

but not enough to really help.

We really need a couple all day soaking rains to at least put a dent in the drought.

[TalkingDog]

24. Hey neighbor, I'm north of you in StatesVegas.

We got a lot of clouds, some drizzle and a little rain.

My big plan to park a new 35 gal. trash can under an open downspout was, less than bountiful, shall we say.

We are on a well. Not that we have ever washed a car or watered a yard. My idea of plantings is Darwin-esque. If I water it a few times after putting it in the ground, I've done my part. It's on it's own after that. We've also been greywatering with my bath soaking water just to give the poor flower beds a little relief.

It's not legal but I'm trying to convince the spousal unit to reroute the bath drain so I won't have to hump used bathwater out by the bucketfull. We'll see how that turns out.

I've heard in G'boro you can't water or wash cars even if you are on a well. They are afraid of lowering the water table too much.

If it comes down to cases here, we've got a very low lake across the street and a creek in the valley behind us.

Heaven help the folks in the cities.


My Favorite Master Artist: Karen Parker GhostWoman Studios

[Greylyn58]

25. My apartment is right next to a city park

and we have a large creek that runs through it. It has been so low for a while now. I've never seen it like this and I've lived where I am for 7 years. It is really scary.

The trees are so dry in the park and leaves that would normally change color in the fall are instead falling off.

Charlotte gets most of its water from Mountain Isle lake I believe and I've heard it is dangerously low due to lack of rain.

If this isn't a sign of Global Warming to the nay-sayers then we need to just hit them very hard on top of their pointy little heads to wake them up.

Oh and :hi: back neighbor

[Doctor Cynic]

23. This is it, folks.

We're finally starting to see the effects of our lifestyle, where everyone feels entitled to wash their car every day and keep their lawn spanking green. Either we'll see a change in mentality once and for all (and causing per capita water use to drop by 70% or so) or we'll be looking at desalinization and triple-digit monthly water bills.

[BreweryYardRat]

27. And yet the assholes at my University still run the sprinklers...every damn night.

Think I'll write the school paper a letter.

[Earth_First]

28. Find the irrigation boxes and turn down (or off) the pressure regulators.

They are green rectangular or round boxes in the ground that house the valves.

[BreweryYardRat]

29. We have cameras all over the place.

I'd prefer not to get kicked out, thank you.

A letter seems like a better bet to me.