Catawba Basin on Drought-Watch Status
Lake levels and stream flows are slightly below normal and showing some signs of stress, the Catawba-Wateree Drought Management Advisory Group said. Rain, or lack of it, will determine whether conditions worsen.
Drought conditions in 2007
Excerpts from The Charlotte Observer
Original article by Bruce Henderson
bhenderson@charlotteobserver.com
Posted: Friday, Aug. 13, 2010
The drought-watch stage means only that municipal water departments, large industries and Duke Energy, which manages Catawba reservoirs, will monitor conditions more closely. The advisory group said residents and businesses should conserve water but it hasn't recommended specific actions.
A drought that lasted from 2007 into 2008 was the worst on record for the basin. Local water managers say they learned from that experience to work together in protecting their water supplies.
This week's widely-watched U.S. Drought Monitor, at www.nc drought.org, shows only parts of the Catawba basin, including Gaston, Lincoln and Catawba counties, abnormally dry. Charlotte's official rainfall total is 2.5 inches below normal for the year.
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http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2010/08/13/1619263/catawba-basin-placed-on-drought.html [You may need to register to view this article.]
