? for you Southern folk

oakiemac · October 08, 2008, 11:05:08 PM

Just curious if the drought conditions have dissappeared in TN, GA, KY, FL, MO areas. I know last year several lakes were just about dried up and many areas were bone dry.
We (southern MI) had one dry spell this summer but we have been getting hit with a lot of rain for the last month. Two weeks ago we got 12" in 3 days, then about a week later we got another 2" and it has rained here all day today. The mud is starting to get terrible again. I had to put the tracks on the bobcat to keep from getting stuck.

Dodgy Loner · October 08, 2008, 11:13:49 PM

We got between 3-4 inches of rain over the last 24 hours, but it's the first significant rainfall we've had in a few weeks. We're still well below normal for the year. Part of the problem is that we tend to get all of our rainfall in big doses that run right into the rivers, rather than small rains throughout the months. The drought conditions seem to be improved compared to the last couple of years, however.

DR Buck · October 08, 2008, 11:19:25 PM

I'm in Orlando and it rained tonight. smiley_bandana Does thet count?

WDH · October 08, 2008, 11:23:03 PM

It has been bone dry here. Seriously dry.

DanG · October 08, 2008, 11:25:27 PM

Thanks for thinking about us, Oakie. Down in my area, we have had close to a normal summer, rainfall wise. Just a few miles north of us, the drought continued into late summer when the Tropical Storms came along. We've had a little dry spell for the last few weeks, but nothing like we endured last year.

Mooseherder · October 08, 2008, 11:28:24 PM

Our Drought in South Florida is over. Seems the moment they imposed water restrictions about 6 months ago the rain started and hasn't stopped.
We got a Monsoon last Saturday and it has rained everyday this week.
Lake Okeechobee water levels are good. They let a lot of water out in anticipation of Storms and when the storm dosen't come it poses a big problem.

Warbird · October 09, 2008, 01:22:49 AM

We've got a couple inches of snow. Oh, wait, you said Southern. ;D

Lanier_Lurker · October 09, 2008, 07:51:10 AM

The rain that Dodgy mentions is hitting down this way as well, but they tend to get more of it up there in the mountains.

The large volume reservoirs in Georgia (Lanier, Hartwell, Clarks Hill) are suffering greatly - being 15 to over 17 feet below full pool. Reservoirs with much smaller volumes, especially those in the Chattahoochee/Flint basin (excluding Lanier of course >:(), are pretty much at normal or above normal levels for this time of year.

Tom · October 09, 2008, 09:40:20 AM

In the N.E. Corner of the State of Florida, it has been raining frequently enough to keep puddles full and the top few inches of the ground damp, but I don't think we can consider the drought over. The Drought here has been so intense for the last few years that the water level in the shallow and rock wells is down. The aquafier hasn't near the water in it that existed 100 years ago. Industry and Urbanization is partly at fault for pumping so much water. But, the real problem has been that Mother Nature hasn't been refilling it. The aquafier isn't like the reservoirs that have been created with dams. The aquafier will take many years of rainfall to fill back up because there are so few "recharge" areas. The Floridan is the main provider of water for Florida and much of the recharge is taking place as far north as the Carolinas. Several S.E. States depend on it for water. Having it's volume so low has more impact that just making it difficult to reach water, the lack of pressure from low volume also allows the salt water from the ocean to backup into the aquafier. That makes the water that is left, less potable.

Many folks see the springs still flowing in Florida and think that it is alright. What they don't know is that there are springs offshore on the floor of the ocean where fresh water from the Floridan flows. When the pressure of the fresh water is relieved, the ocean water comes rushing in.

We still need a lot of rain.

oakiemac · October 09, 2008, 03:43:45 PM

Well, I guess I won't complain about the mud anymore. I hate real dry weather and we have been fortunate to get the rain that we have. Lake Michigan was at near all time low levels a few years ago but I think it is back up some.

Hopefully you get a bunch of snow this winter to fill the pools back up. :D

Slabs · October 09, 2008, 08:04:51 PM

DanG, Tom we do have a unique problem down here though it has happened on other regions from time-to-time. I've experienced a loss of irrigation from a small stream that I've been using for 25+years and had to move my pump to another stream. I also depend on that pump for emergency fire fighting since I live out in the "weeds". (see my map pin on "satellite")
Last year wells just West of DanG dried up because the Chattahoochee/Appalachicola watershed diminished. I have also noticed that my well pump seems to run somewhat longer than it used to after minimal usage and that scares me. My aquifier is at about 65 feet and is of good quality which would be a greater loss than one of lesser.

I just keep hoping. Good luck to us all.

LL, keep us posted on the lakes. I'm always curious about them as they affect us down here.

timberfaller390 · October 09, 2008, 10:20:47 PM

Quote from: oakiemac on October 09, 2008, 03:43:45 PM
Hopefully you get a bunch of snow this winter to fill the pools back up. :D

Haven't seen more than an inch of snow in I couldn't tell you when.

Raider Bill · October 10, 2008, 11:46:53 AM

SWIFTMUD The people that control our water here in South West Florida just renewed our water restrictions.

Bibbyman · October 10, 2008, 08:35:13 PM

No drought in Missouri this year. The last three years have been dry. This year some areas already had twice their normal rainfall by August.

We've had a lot of heavy rains - like when Ike went through we got 7" in our area. North of us got a lot more just from that one system.

It's been fairly dry the last couple of weeks. Got an inch or so night before last.

Tom · October 10, 2008, 10:24:43 PM

I look at the drought being broken when the ground and reservoir waters are back to standard levels. Just having rain doesn't end the drought, even when the water is running off.

js2743 · October 10, 2008, 10:59:52 PM

southwest virginia here and we are bone dry last i heard we was 35 inches below normal since 2006

Raider Bill · October 11, 2008, 08:18:43 AM

Tom,
You are right. Here no matter how much it rains the ground can only absorb so much the rest runs off into either the Gulf or Tampa Bay.

rebocardo · October 11, 2008, 10:36:46 PM

Not allowed to water the grass, wash the car, etc.

In one county at least, you can not sell any house without it being certified having either 1.6 or 1.28 flush toilets AND water reducing nozzles on showers and faucets. All new construction is 1.28 gallon toilets.

Mooseherder · October 12, 2008, 02:25:47 PM

News story last night said Water managers had to release more water out of Lake Okeechobee. We had another downpour on Saturday and also more at noon today.
This picture is of our drainage ditch from Saturday that doesn't lead to anywhere. The water will go down in about a weeks time if there isn't anymore rain. It was down to a couple inches from last Saturday's downpour but got replenished yesterday. ;D

One thing that has really changed for this neighborhood is our well water. It has gotten worse. I think the previous drought had something to do with that.