SBA Disaster Loans Available Following Secretary of Agriculture Disaster Declaration in Georgia

(BUSINESS WIRE)--The U.S. Small Business Administration announces today (December 7) that federal economic injury disaster loans are available to small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives and most private non-profit organizations of all sizes located in the entire state of Georgia because of drought and excessive heat that began July 1, 2010.

“When the Secretary of Agriculture issues a disaster declaration to help farmers recover from damages and losses to crops, the Small Business Administration issues a declaration to eligible entities affected by the same disaster”

“When the Secretary of Agriculture issues a disaster declaration to help farmers recover from damages and losses to crops, the Small Business Administration issues a declaration to eligible entities affected by the same disaster,” said Frank Skaggs, director of SBA’s Field Operations Center East.

Under this declaration, the SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan program is available to eligible farm-related and nonfarm-related entities that suffered financial losses as a direct result of this disaster. Agricultural producers, farmers and ranchers are not eligible to apply to SBA, but nurseries are eligible to apply for economic injury disaster loans for losses caused by drought conditions.

The loan amount can be up to $2 million with a 4 percent interest rate for small businesses, 3 percent for non-profit organizations and terms up to 30 years. The SBA determines eligibility based on the size of the applicant, type of activity and its financial resources. Loan amounts and terms are set by the SBA and are based on each applicant’s financial condition. These working capital loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills that could have been paid had the disaster not occurred. These loans are not intended to replace lost sales or profits.

Disaster loan information and application forms may be obtained by calling the SBA’s Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 (800-877-8339 for the hearing-impaired) Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET or by sending an e-mail to disastercustomerservice@sba.gov. Loan applications can be downloaded from the SBA’s website at www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance. Completed applications should be mailed to: U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155.

Those affected by the disaster may apply for disaster loans from SBA’s secure website at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/.

Completed loan applications must be returned to SBA no later than July 26, 2011.

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Atlanta Floods Extremely Rare

The epic flooding that hit the Atlanta area in September was so extremely rare that, six weeks later this event has defied attempts to describe it. Scientists have reviewed the numbers and they are stunning.

“At some sites, the annual chance of a flood of this magnitude was so significantly less than 1 in 500 that, given the relatively short length of streamgaging records (well less than 100 years), the U.S. Geological Survey cannot accurately characterize the probability due to its extreme rarity," said Robert Holmes, USGS National Flood Program Coordinator. “Nationwide, given that our oldest streamgaging records span about 100 years, the USGS does not cite probabilities for floods that are beyond a 0.2 percent (500-year) flood.”

“If a 0.2 percent (500-year) flood was a cup of coffee, this one brewed a full pot,” said Brian McCallum, Assistant Director for the USGS Georgia Water Science Center in Atlanta. “This flood overtopped 20 USGS streamgages – one by 12 feet. The closest numbers we have seen like these in Georgia were from Tropical Storm Alberto in 1994. This flood was off the charts.”

The rains returned water levels in the region’s two largest reservoirs, Lake Lanier and Allatoona Lake, to pre-drought levels. Lake Lanier rose by more than three feet to 1068 feet by Sept. 25 and returned to full pool in October. Allatoona Lake rose to 853.25 feet on Sept 23, more than 13 feet over full pool of 840 feet.

“The flooding in Atlanta is certainly near the top of the list of the worst floods in the United States during the past 100 years,” said Holmes. “For comparable drainage areas, the magnitude of this flood was worse than the 1977 Kansas City flood, which caused tremendous destruction and loss of life. It is a testament to the diligence of county officials and emergency management teams that more lives were not lost in Georgia.”

Significant property losses, however, were a near certainty from this event. According to the National Weather Service, some locations recorded up to 20 inches of rain from 8:00 pm on Sept. 20 to 8:00 pm the following day. Culverts and sewers are not usually designed for events of this magnitude because they are so rare and it is cost prohibitive.

“Applying rainfall frequency calculations, we have determined that the chance of 10 inches or more occurring at any given point are less than one hundredth of one percent”, said Kent Frantz, Senior Service Hydrologist for the National Weather Service at Peachtree City. “This means that the chance of an event like this occurring is 1 in 10,000.”

For this analysis, USGS reviewed high-water-mark surveys and indirect peak discharge computations throughout the flood-affected region. Scientists gather these data from the field during floods and in their immediate aftermath to supplement or in this case, to provide data after a gage is destroyed. Some notable results:

In Cobb County, Sweetwater, Noonday, Butler, and Powder Springs creeks flooded so severely that the annual chance of a worse event is far smaller than 0.2 percent (500-year) flood. On Sweetwater Creek near Austell, Ga., high-water marks showed a peak stage of 30.8 feet. The peak flow (31,500 cubic feet per second) was more than double the previous peak flow recorded at this site during the last 73 years. The previous peak, caused by the remnants of Hurricane Dennis in July 2005, was almost 10 feet lower at 21.87 feet.
In Douglas County, the Dog River near Fairplay overtopped the USGS stream gage by 12 feet. The peak stage was 33.8 feet, with a peak discharge of 59,900 cubic feet per second. This is well beyond the 0.2 percent annual exceedence probability (500-year) flood.
Gwinnett, DeKalb and Rockdale counties also had record flooding. Suwanee Creek floods were beyond the 0.2 percent annual exceedence probability (500-year) flood.
On the Chattahoochee, the USGS gage at Vinings reached a peak stage of 28.12 feet with 40,900 cubic feet per second, which represents between a between a 1.0 to 0.5 percent annual exceedence probability (100- to 200-year) flood.
In Georgia the USGS maintains a network of nearly 300 streamgages that provide data in real time. Data from these streamgages are used by local, state and federal officials for numerous purposes, including public safety and flood forecasting by the National Weather Service. A map of these gages and graphs of discharge for the last seven days is available online.

The USGS works in cooperation with other Federal, state, and local agencies, throughout Georgia that measure water level (stage), streamflow (discharge), lake levels and rainfall.

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Dry autumns and winters may lead to fewer tornadoes in the spring, according to new analysis of long-term data

Global warming will likely mean more unpredictable weather, scientists say, and a new study by researchers at the University of Georgia pins down, possibly for the first time, how drought conditions in an area’s fall and winter may effect tornado activity the following spring.
The study, published today in the journal Environmental Research Letters, is specific to Georgia and the Southeast, but further study could reveal patterns that might make this more general—including the already tornado-prone Great Plains.

“Our results suggest that there is a statistically significant reduction in tornado activity during a tornado season following drought the preceding fall and winter,” said Marshall Shepherd, a meteorologist and lead author of the study. On the other hand, wet autumns and winters examined in the study had nearly twice as many spring tornado days as drought years did.

The research gives hope that one day meteorologists and climatologists may be able to predict the severity of a spring tornado season the way they now do for hurricanes. Other authors of the paper were Thomas Mote, also of the University of Georgia, and Dev Niyogi of Purdue University. Shepherd and Mote are in department of geography in the UGA Franklin College of Arts and Sciences.

The genesis for the research was the severe Atlanta tornado in March 2008, and Shepherd’s interest in how tornadoes form during severe drought years.

While such tools as Doppler radar have increased our ability to “see” tornadoes as they form, predicting a tornado season’s potential severity has remained elusive. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change projected in 2007 that the frequency and severity of droughts may increase over time, but very little is known about drought conditions affect the frequency or intensity of severe weather hazards such as tornadoes.

To help understand how fall and winter weather might affect spring tornado seasons, the research team acquired the historical database of severe thunderstorms and tornado occurrences from 1951-2006 from the Storm Prediction Center of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. They also analyzed storm data reports from the National Climactic Data Center and meteorological drought conditions using historical rain gauge and Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite data from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

Using a number of tools of scientific analysis, the team primarily focused on tornado activity from March-June in Georgia and the Southeast. What they found was shocking, Shepherd said, yet plausible.

On average, wet autumns and winters presaged nearly twice as many spring tornado days in the study area as prior drought seasons. Springs following wet winters and falls were also five to six times more likely to have multiple tornado days than antecedent drought years.

“We do not suggest that soil moisture or precipitation the previous fall and winter exert a direct control on which individual storms will spawn tornadoes,” said Shepherd. “But these long-term seasonal relationships in the study area are striking.”

Correlating historical records and tornado activity has been difficult at best for scientists over the years. For one thing, the National Weather Service did not implement its watch and warning system until the mid-1950s, and only with advent of advanced radar techniques and ground examination of storm sites have researchers been able to say categorically that a certain storm even was a tornado. Also, studies linking tornadic activity with the El Niño cycle have been contradictory.

While it clearly seems that wet falls and winters lead to more severe spring tornado seasons, antecedent seasonal drought scenarios in north Georgia were almost never associated with above-normal tornadic activity the following spring over the 50-years period of the study.

The results for north Georgia were essentially replicated for the larger region encompassing Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi. For this entire region, a stunning 75 percent of years characterized by meteorological drought in falls and winters had below-normal tornado seasons in the spring.

While the new study, which was supported by grants from NASA, offers strong clues about how spring tornado seasons form, the authors urge caution in interpreting the findings until the analysis is repeated for other locations.

Just how the connection works between fall-winter rainfall and spring tornado seasons remains unclear. One possibility is that the atmosphere uses soil moisture “memory” from the fall and winter to modify conditions suitable for severe weather. A related hypothesis is related to “soil moisture” pockets and storm initiation.

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Georgia emerges from three-year drought

Thanks to one of the wettest springs in Georgia’s history, the drought that has gripped the state for three years has ended.

March through May was the second wettest spring out of the past 115 in Georgia. The vast majority of the state has been climatological drought-free since March. The exception has been the Lake Lanier and Lake Hartwell basins. Conditions in these basins have continued to improve over the past few months.

Proper drought management requires a period of recharge of the hydrologic systems after the end of the climatological drought.

Soil moisture and stream flows across the state are normal to much above normal for the middle of June.

With the end of the drought, the entire state has returned to the non-drought outdoor watering schedule. This means that odd number addresses can use outdoor water on Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday. Even number addresses may use outdoor water on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.

There are no restrictions on the time of outdoor water use. However, watering of plants between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. is discouraged since much of the water evaporates before entering the soil and thus has limited effectiveness.

Proper water use can enhance a landscape. However, improper watering can cause a host of problems. Most lawns will thrive on one inch of water per week. This water can come from either rain or irrigation. Best results are usually obtained if the watering is done once per week.

Additional information on proper watering and care of landscapes is available through your local University of Georgia Cooperative Extension office.

Water conservation information is available from Watersmart: Save Water, Save Time, Save Money! at www.watersmart.net and Conserve Water Georgia at www.conservewatergeorgia.net.

Additional moisture conditions information and updates can be found at www.georgiadrought.org. Automated weather data is at www.georgiaweather.net. Daily rainfall data is at www.cocorahs.org. U.S. Geological Survey data is at ga.water.usgs.gov.

By David Stooksbury
University of Georgia

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Protect yourself from mosquito baby boom

Georgia’s drought kept mosquitoes, to a point, at bay. But an abundance of rain and warm weather has sparked dormant eggs to hatch. By the millions, adult mosquitoes are descending on Georgians all across the state.

“As long as these mosquitoes keep laying eggs the problem will continue,” said Elmer Gray, an entomologist with the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

Georgia is home to 63 mosquito species. To control them in general, people can eliminate standing water and spray pesticides.

In south Georgia, though, more than just dumping containers is needed. There, mosquitoes come from riverbeds and swamps where eggs have been dormant through the drought. They are now immersed in water and hatching in record numbers, he said. Integrated pest management practices are needed, but these practices require resources, people and training.

“This is a good time for citizen groups to approach local government and request mosquito control programs,” Gray said. “In December, it won’t seem like a priority.”

Johnny Whiddon, UGA Cooperative Extension coordinator in Brooks County, said he is getting twice as many mosquito calls as last year. The southern county has many lowland areas. After receiving 19 inches of rain this spring, the areas are flooded, and mosquitoes are reproducing.

“We are applying for federal assistance to pay for spraying,” Whiddon said. “In the past, we couldn’t afford a spraying program, but now we need to figure out what we can do.”

To implement a mosquito control program, the county will need to set traps and record mosquito numbers. In the mean time, Whiddon tells citizens to treat flooded areas with larvaecide donuts and spray shrubbery around their homes with pesticides every 10 to 14 days.

Lowndes County has recorded over an 8,000 percent increase in mosquitoes in surveillance traps over a three-week period beginning April 6. The county has implemented a governmentally-funded program to assist in limiting these numbers, said Jake Price, Lowndes County extension agent.

Limit Exposure

Mosquitoes are most active at dawn and dusk. Limiting exposure during peak times is recommended. This isn’t the time to experiment with unproven repellents like eating garlic or using bug zappers, Gray said.

Most homeowners can’t do much to control mosquito breeding in wild areas, but they can limit them around the house by diligently getting rid of places where the larvae develop, like the water in toys, tarps, boats or buckets.

They can also:

• Secure window screens.

• Keep vegetation trimmed.

• Use barrier sprays on plants and entryways.

• Use burgess foggers.

Wearing light-colored, loose-fitting clothing helps. Mosquitoes are attracted to dark clothing and the human silhouette and sense body heat, which helps them locate blood – their food.

The most effective technique for preventing mosquito bites is the proper use of insect repellents, Gray said. He recommends products containing DEET. A product with a 10 percent to 30 percent concentration is good and protects for a few hours.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and American Academy of Pediatrics also approved these strengths for children over two months old.

“Products containing DEET are still the best choice for young children,” Gray said. “When treating children, an adult should apply the repellent to his or her hands first and then rub the repellent onto the child’s exposed skin, but never to a child’s hands.”

Farm ponds, usually stocked with brim, are not a source of mosquitoes. Fish are mosquito predators. However, drainage ponds located in parking lots and other commercial areas can be larval habitats, he said. Gambusia, or mosquito fish, can grow in these smaller ponds and control mosquito populations.

Serious Health Risk

Mosquitoes can leave behind more than itchy bumps when they bite. They transmit several serious diseases, including Eastern equine encephalitis, LaCrosse encephalitis and West Nile virus. All of these diseases can produce encephalitis, which is inflammation of the brain, and are extremely serious when a full-blown case occurs.

According to the Georgia Division of Public Health, five people reported West Nile virus from mosquito bites in 2008, and 47 cases were reported in 2007. Five people reported LaCrosse in 2008. Twenty horses were diagnosed with Eastern equine encephalitis last year. Once an animal is infected, they often die in 48 to 72 hours. Horses can be vaccinated against the disease.

“First and foremost, homeowners need to be concerned about Eastern equine encephalitis,” Gray said. “This disease is a real threat, and children and horses are the most susceptible.”

If not fatal, the disease can cause life-long disabilities, he said, and conditions now are perfect for its spread.

By April Sorrow
University of Georgia

April Sorrow is a news editor with the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

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Despite winter rains, conservation measures still needed, researcher says

Recent heavy rains may have helped to end the exceptional drought the metro Atlanta region has faced for several years, but conservation measures are still needed to help boost the region’s water capacity during the drier summer months, according to a Georgia State University professor.

“This is no time to let go of conservation measures that are in place,” said Jordan Clayton, assistant professor of geosciences. “We need to maintain conservation levels so that we can increase storage capacity to the point where local reservoirs are mostly full.”

Typically, Atlanta’s reservoirs and streams are replenished during the winter, and then depleted during the summer due to many factors, including a process called evapotranspiration — a combination of evaporation and transpiration, or the loss of water from plants during photosynthesis.

“In metro Atlanta, we have a roughly equivalent annual rate of precipitation to evapotranspiration,” Clayton explained. “The balance is therefore sensitive because even small deviations in precipitation can result in water deficits. Conservation measures help reduce our vulnerability.”

Lake Lanier, Atlanta’s main source of water, is still several feet below full pool, despite recent heavy rains. Local aquifers, which are limited but also help to provide water, have improved, but due to metro Atlanta’s heavy runoff ratio from impermeable surfaces like concrete and asphalt, less water is stored locally than at times past, Clayton said.

Rainfall and runoff also affect local streams, their flows, and the fish and invertebrates which live there. These animals benefit from a limited range of variability of water flow, which both drought and recent heavy rains can disrupt.

When flows are low, chemicals and other items in the stream become more heavily concentrated, he said.

"This can cause problems," Clayton explained. “On the flip side, when we do get rain, our streams may clear out materials that help to regulate the flow.”

Clayton and colleagues, in conjunction with arborist Neil Norton, are working on a pilot study in Decatur to explore the impact of altered streamflow and water quality on erosion and invertebrates in Peavine and Glenn Creeks.

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March rain relieves Georgia drought

An unusually wet March has brought major drought relief to north Georgia. Only the Lake Lanier and Lake Hartwell basins are now in drought. The remainder of north Georgia is drought-free.

Abnormally dry to moderate drought conditions continue across south Georgia, however.

Though relief has come, long-term rainfall deficits are still...http://thewatermain.blogspot.com/2009/03/march-rain-relieves-georgia-drought.html

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SBA Disaster Loans Available Following Secretary of Agriculture Disaster Declaration in Georgia

(BUSINESS WIRE)--The U.S. Small Business Administration announces today that federal economic injury disaster loans are available to small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives and most private, non-profit organizations of all sizes located in the State of Georgia as a result of drought conditions beginning on January 1, 2008 and continuing.

These loans are available in all counties in the State of Georgia except McIntosh County.

“When the Secretary of Agriculture issues a disaster declaration to help farmers recover from damages and losses to crops, the Small Business Administration issues a declaration to assist small businesses and most private, non-profit organizations affected by the same disaster,” said Frank Skaggs, Director of SBA’s Field Operations Center East.

Under this declaration, SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program is available to farm-related and non-farm-related small business concerns and small agricultural cooperatives that suffered economic injury as a direct result of this disaster. Farmers and ranchers are not eligible to apply to SBA, but nurseries are eligible to apply for economic injury disaster loans for losses caused by drought conditions.

Eligible small businesses and non-profit organizations may qualify for loans up to $2 million. These loans are available at a 4 percent interest rate with loan terms up to 30 years. The SBA determines eligibility based on the size of the applicant, type of activity and its financial resources. Loan amounts and terms are set by the SBA and are based on each applicant’s financial condition. Under this disaster declaration, the SBA cannot provide loans to agricultural producers.

To obtain a loan application or program information, call the SBA’s Customer Service Center at 1-800-659-2955 (1-800-877-8339 for the hearing-impaired) Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 9 p.m., and Saturday from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. EST or by emailing the Customer Service Center at disastercustomerservice@sba.gov. The Customer Service Center will be closed from December 25 – 28, 2008 for the holidays. Business loan applications can also be downloaded from the SBA website at www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance. Completed applications should be returned to the Centers or mailed to: U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX. 76155.

Victims may visit SBA’s secure website at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/ to apply for disaster loans.

Completed loan applications must be returned to SBA no later than August 12, 2009.

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Georgia’s Winter Weather will be Extreme

Georgians can expect a roller coaster winter with temperatures jumping between warm and extremely cold.

The southeastern United States is currently in what is called a neutral phase of the El Niño - Southern Oscillation. The ENSO refers to the surface temperatures around the equator in the Pacific Ocean. The ENSO’s other two phases are El Niño and La Niña.

Last winter, a La Niña ENSO phase influenced Georgia’s weather.

The neutral phase normally brings a winter with wide swings in temperatures. This means that Georgia can expect extremely cold periods with single digits in the mountains and the lower 20s in south and coastal Georgia. Between the extremely cold periods, warm temperatures in the 70s can be expected.

All devastating freezes that have affected the Southeast have occurred during neutral winters. Devastating freezes for Georgia have been ones with temperatures below zero in the mountains, around 10 degrees along the coast and single digits in south Georgia.

This does not mean that every neutral winter will have a devastating freeze, but the odds are greatly increased. Because of the greater likelihood of a devastating freeze this winter, all Georgians are urged to take necessary precautions to protect life and property.

The rainfall outlook is less certain. Rainfall during neutral winters is very variable. Some neutral winters are very wet while other are very dry. At this time, we don’t know what we’ll get. Whether Georgia experiences a wet or dry winter will depend on the number of low-pressure systems that develop in the northern Gulf of Mexico and move across the state.

We do know, however, that the past 15 winters have been drier than the long-term average. Given this trend, the best rainfall outlook for the winter is to hedge our bets that the winter will be drier than the long-term average.

A dry winter is not what the state needs. Northeast and north-central Georgia are still in extreme drought. Lakes Lanier, Hartwell, Russell and Clarks Hill are near or below their record lows. A very wet winter is needed for these lakes to fully recover.

Additionally, a dry winter will set the state up for another drought. Georgia depends on winter rains to recharge the soil moisture, groundwater and reservoirs for the heavy water use in summer. If the state does not receive adequate rains this winter, the probability of the drought expanding will increase.

By David E. Stooksbury
University of Georgia

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Drought Tightens its Grip on North Georgia

Drought conditions continue to grow harsher across north Georgia. Water levels in reservoirs and streams are at or near record lows across most of the region. Groundwater levels are also low.

Lake Lanier, a primary water source for metro Atlanta, is at a record low for mid-November. The previous mid-November record low was at this time last year.

Hartwell, Russell and Clarks Hill lakes in the Savannah River basin are at record low levels. Both Russell and Clarks Hill have less than two feet of usable pool left. Hartwell water levels are dropping very quickly in order to meet downstream needs. The U.S. Army Corp of Engineers reports that the remaining conservation pool for Hartwell is 34 percent, for Russell it’s 32 percent and for Clarks Hill it’s 10 percent.

Even with normal seasonal rains, it’s doubtful that Lanier, Hartwell, Russell or Clarks Hill lakes will fully recover this winter.

Major rivers that are at record low flows for mid-November include the Etowah River at Canton, the Chattahoochee River near Cornelia, Chestatee River near Dahlonega, the Middle Oconee River at Athens, the Broad River near Bell, the Little River near Washington, the Oconee River at Dublin and the Altamaha River near Baxley.

Because of the extremely low stream flows, many counties in north Georgia have had their drought level classifications changed to a more intense level.

Exceptional drought – the most severe drought level - now exists north and east of a line running through Lincoln, Wilkes, Olgethorpe, Oconee, Barrow, Gwinnett, Hall, Forsyth, Cherokee, Pickens, Gilmer and Fannin counties. This region includes Athens, Gainesville and Atlanta’s northern suburbs.

Extreme drought conditions are now in Columbia, Richmond, McDuffie, Glascock, Taliaferro, Warren, Hancock, Greene, Morgan, Walton, Gwinnett, north Fulton and Cherokee counties. The extreme conditions are also in parts of Pickens, Gilmer, Fannin and Murray counties.

Most of the remaining area north of the fall line is in severe drought. Heard, Troup, Harris and most of Talbot and Muscogee counties are in moderate drought.

The ocean-atmosphere system is in what climatologist call a neutral pattern, meaning it is in neither an El Niño nor a La Niña pattern. Historically, neutral-pattern winters have been very variable.

There is no strong indication that the winter of 2008-09 will be abnormally wet or dry. The trend over the past 15 years, however, has been for dry winters.

There is also no strong indication that the winter will be abnormally warm or cool. An important historical observation is that every major devastating freeze has occurred during a neutral-pattern winter.

With recent winters being our best guide, the most prudent response is to assume that this winter will tend toward the dry side. Water conservation efforts should continue.

Additional drought information and updates can be found at www.georgiadrought.org. Automated weather data across Georgia is at www.georgiaweather.net. Daily rainfall data is at www.cocorahs.org. U.S. Geological Survey data is at ga.water.usgs.gov. Water conservation information is available at www.conservewatergeorgia.net.

By David Emory Stooksbury
University of Georgia

David Emory Stooksbury is the state climatologist and a professor in engineering and atmospheric sciences at the University of Georgia.

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Georgia’s Drought Gets Worse on Dry September

Tropical Storm Fay brought beneficial rain to Georgia in late August. But a very dry September has led to the return of low stream flows across the state and worsened drought conditions.
All streams in Georgia except those originating in the extreme southern counties are extremely low. Most streams in the state’s northern half are at or near record low flows for this time of the year.

Because of the extremely low stream flows, many counties have had their drought level classification changed to a more intense drought level.

The region now in extreme drought is north and east of a line from Burke, Jefferson, Washington, Hancock, Putnam, Morgan, Walton, Gwinnett, north Fulton, Cherokee, Pickens and Murray counties. This includes the cities of Athens, Augusta, Blairsville, Clayton, Cumming, Gainesville and Madison. Extreme drought conditions occur about once in 50 years.

Severe drought now exists north of a line from Screven, Jenkins, Candler, Toombs, Jeff Davis, Telfair, Ben Hill, Wilcox, Dooly, Macon, Schley, Marion, Chattahoochee counties. It includes Atlanta, Columbus, Macon and Rome. Severe drought conditions occur about once in 20 years.

Moderate drought conditions exists in Appling, Bacon, Bullock, Coffee, Crisp, Effingham, Evans, Irwin, Pierce, Quitman, Stewart, Sumter, Tattnall, Turner and Webster counties. Moderate drought conditions occur about once in 10 years.

Mild drought conditions are found in Atkinson, Berrien, Brantley, Clay, Lanier, Lee, Long, Randolph, Terrell, Tift, northern Ware, Wayne and Worth counties. Mild drought conditions occur about once in seven years.

Abnormally dry counties are Baker, Brooks, Bryan, Calhoun, Camden, Charlton, Chatham, Clinch, Colquitt, Cook, Decatur, Dougherty, Early, Echols, Glynn, Grady, Liberty, Lowndes, McIntosh, Miller, Mitchell, Seminole, Thomas and southern Ware.

The biggest concerns over the next several weeks will be stream flows and soil moisture.

Lake Lanier is at a record low for this time of the year.

In the Savannah River basin, Clarks Hill Reservoir only has 2.78 feet of usable pool remaining, Lake Russell 1.31 feet and Lake Hartwell 19.57 feet. Since Lake Hartwell is at the top of the basin, its water will be used to support downstream reservoirs and other water needs. Lake Hartwell’s water level is expected to drop significantly over the next several weeks.

Farm ponds are showing the lack of rain. Beef and dairy producers are having to move cattle for drinking water purposes or find alternative water sources.

Low soil moisture in the fall can be good for harvesting some crops. But not all farmers benefit from the dry conditions. The dry weather will likely prevent some from getting another cutting of hay. It will also inhibit the planting of small grains and over seeding of pastures.

The probability for meaningful drought relief over the next couple of weeks is low. October is still in the tropical storm season. But the likelihood of tropical weather impacting Georgia diminishes rapidly as the month progresses.

Additional drought information and updates can be found at www.georgiadrought.org.

Automated weather data across Georgia is at www.georgiaweather.net. Daily rainfall from CoCoRaHS is available at www.cocorahs.org. U.S. Geological Survey data is at ga.water.usgs.gov.

Water conservation information is available at www.conservewatergeorgia.net.

By David Emory Stooksbury
University of Georgia

David Emory Stooksbury is the state climatologist and a professor of engineering and atmospheric sciences with the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

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Trees Fall Victim to Georgia's Drought

An increasing number of trees are falling victim to Georgia’s ongoing drought, according to the Georgia Forestry Commission. “The lack of rainfall is impacting shade trees and has also caused a decrease in timber production for the past growing season,” said James Johnson, GFC Staff Forester. “Both pine trees and hardwoods are dying, but species within the red oak group in urban areas are prompting the most attention. Homeowners should be taking preventive measures now,” he said, “because by the time obvious symptoms appear, it may be too late.”

Johnson said large trees require several hundred gallons of water each day to stay healthy, but any supplemental water applied will be beneficial. Trees should be watered thoroughly underneath their “drip line,” the area beneath the canopy where rainfall drips to the ground from the tree’s foliage and where “feeder roots” transport moisture to the trunk.

“Certain types of “gray water” can be used to sustain your trees,” explained Johnson. “Water from dish or clothes washing can be used without fear because they are diluted solutions that won’t harm the tree.”

Johnson said drought-stressed trees should not be fertilized because that can spur branch growth and put further strain on the tree’s limited water supply. One thorough watering each week is more effective than several light waterings, according to Johnson. “Trees suffering from the drought are also more susceptible to diseases and insects,” Johnson said, “so check them regularly to prevent damage.” Johnson recommended mulching to help hold moisture in the soil, which is especially beneficial for shallow-rooted species such as dogwood. As cooler weather approaches, trees will require less moisture and supplemental water isn’t necessary, according to Johnson.

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Water Seminar to Focus on Business’ Role

While a number of smaller lakes and reservoirs have recovered from last year’s searing draught, Lake Lanier, a main water supply for much of metro Atlanta, remains low and state environmental leaders say conservation will be as important as ever as we head through what promises to be a long, dry summer.

To highlight what business can do, should be doing, and is doing, to conserve water , Georgia State University’s Center for Ethics and Corporate Responsibility will host a day-long seminar featuring top environmental experts, executives from some of the area’s most environmentally-conscious companies and local government leaders, including Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin.

Water: A Natural Resource in Peril will be presented from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 17 at the Georgia Aquarium, 225 Baker Street.

Linda DiSantis, an executive-in-residence at the J. Mack Robinson College of Business’ ethics center and the seminar’s lead organizer, says more and more companies are thinking about their environmental impact and use of natural resources.

Beyond companies that use water in production, like beverage bottlers who depend on a continuous supply of clean water, she said companies are thinking about how their use of resources is viewed, and how to make their operations sustainable.

“Companies need to behave responsibly because water is a limited resource and if they are viewed as not being responsible, they could suffer the consequence of a backlash,” she said. “It’s not something you do just because it’s a nice thing to do. It’s an important strategy issue.”

Presenters at the seminar will include keynote speaker David Orr, the Paul Sears distinguished professor of environmental studies and politics at Oberlin College, and Jason Morrison, director of the Pacific Institute’s Globalization Program and a project coordinator for the U.N. Global Compact CEO Water Mandate.

Their discussions will give attendees a “big picture” view of the world’s water resources, said Steven Olson, the director of the Center for Ethics and Corporate Responsibility.

“A lot of people in the room – it’ll be a real eye-opener for them,” Olson said.

Greg Koch, the Coca-Cola Co.’s director of Global Water Stewardship; Jeff Carrier, the sustainability manager for the Carpet and Rug Institute; and Gary Black, president of the Georgia Agribusiness Council will address best practices and water usage by the private sector during a panel discussion.

Olson says the carpet industry tackled its water use years ago, and can be viewed as an example of how companies can work together within an industry to solve environmental challenges.

“They’ve had to really get their hands around this,” Olson said. “Many of these sustainability issues can’t be addressed at the firm level. They have to be addressed at the industry level.”

Atlanta’s Mayor Franklin, who has dubbed herself the “sewer mayor,” is expected to discuss where business stands as the city grapples with water supply and infrastructure issues. The city is in the midst of a massive $1 billion sewer rebuilding project and the sewer plan is just one part of the $3.8 billion Clean Water Atlanta initiative to improve drinking water and reduce pollution.

Gail Cowie, a senior planning and policy advisor from the Georgia Environmental Protection Division, will also give an overview of the statewide water plan, adopted by lawmakers and signed into law in February, and explain what will be expected of business under the plan.

Georgia Slips into Deeper Drought

With June temperatures routinely hitting the 90s and little rain so far this summer, drought conditions have worsened across Georgia.

Conditions in the western half of south and middle Georgia have deteriorated the most. A few weeks ago, these regions were classified as abnormally dry. They are now in severe drought.

Severe drought now exists west and north of a line crossing Lowndes, Cook, Tift, Turner, Crisp, Dooly, Houston, Bibb, Jones, Baldwin, Hancock, Glascock, Warren, McDuffie and Richmond counties. It includes Albany, Atlanta, Augusta, Columbus, Macon and Rome. Severe drought conditions occur about once in 20 years.

Much of north Georgia is in extreme drought. This includes an area north and east of a line crossing Lincoln, Wilkes, Taliaferro, Greene, Morgan, Walton, Gwinnett, Forsyth, Dawson, Gilmer and Fannin counties. The cities are Athens, Blairsville, Clayton, Cumming, Gainesville and Madison. Extreme drought conditions occur about once in 50 years.

Moderate drought conditions exists in Echols, Lanier, Berrien, Irwin, Ben Hill, Wilcox, Pulaski, Dodge, Bleckley, Twiggs, Wilkinson, Laurens, Washington, Johnson, Jefferson, Burke, Jenkins, Screven and Effingham counties. Moderate drought conditions occur about once in 10 years.

Clinch, Atkinson, Coffee, Telfair, Wheeler, Treutlen, Emanuel, Candler, Bullock, Evans, Liberty, Bryan and Chatham counties are in mild drought, which occurs about once in seven years.

Abnormally dry counties are Camden, Charlton, Ware, Bacon, Jeff Davis, Montgomery, Toombs, Tattnall, Long and McIntosh.

Currently, the only counties not in drought are Glynn, Brantley, Pierce, Appling and Wayne. However, a hot, dry July could cause drought to develop rapidly.

The biggest concern over the next several weeks will be stream flows and soil moisture.

Almost half of the U.S. Geological Survey stream gauges across Georgia are at record low flows as of June 25. This analysis includes only gauges with a minimum of 30 years of records. It doesn’t include gauges on the Chattahoochee River below the Buford Dam or gauges on the Savannah River.

Streams at daily record low flows include the Chattahoochee River near Cornelia, the Etowah River at Canton, the Notteley River near Blairsville, the Chattoga River near Clayton, the Broad River near Bell, the Flint River near Carsonville, Oakfield, Albany and Newton, the Oconee River at Athens, Milledgeville and Dublin, the Ocmulgee River near Jackson and Lumber City, the Ohoopee River near Reidsville, the Withlacoochee River near Quitman and Ichawaynochaway Creek near Milford.

Several streams are at or below their 7Q10 flow value, which is the 7-day flow that has only a 10 percent chance of occurring in any given year. When it does happen, it typically occurs in September or October, when stream flows are normally at their lowest for the year.

Seeing streams at or below the 7Q10 in late June indicates the severity of the current conditions.

Streams currently below their 7Q10 are the Broad River near Bell, the Little River near Washington, the Ocmulgee River near Jackson, the Oconee River at Dublin, the Flint River at Carsonville and Ichawaynochaway Creek at Milford.

Streams slightly above their 7Q10 are the Middle Oconee at Athens and the Chattooga River near Clayton.

Soil moisture levels are extremely low north of a line from Seminole County to Screven County.

North of a line from Chattahoochee County to Richmond County the levels are at or below the 10th percentile. At this percentile, we would expect more moisture in the soils 90 out of 100 years in late June.

North of a line from Columbia County to Hall County to Fannin County, levels are at or below the 5th percentile. At the 5th percentile, we would expect more moisture in the soils 95 out of 100 years in late June.

Farm ponds, especially ones not fed by springs, are showing the lack of rain. Many ponds didn’t receive adequate recharge during the winter and entered the summer already low.

Through October, Georgia’s best chance for widespread drought relief will be tropical disturbances. The tropics usually don’t become active until late summer.

More drought information can be found at www.georgiadrought.org. Automated weather data across Georgia is at www.georgiaweather.net. Daily rainfall from CoCoRaHS is available at www.cocorahs.org. USGS data is at ga.water.usgs.gov. Water conservation information is available at www.conservewatergeorgia.net.

By David Stooksbury
University of Georgia

David Stooksbury is the state climatologist, a professor of engineering and graduate coordinator for atmospheric sciences in the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

Georgia EPD Order Brings Some Relief for Parched Landscape, Pools

Citizens in 61 drought-stricken north Georgia counties can fill swimming pools and hand water their landscape effective immediately, according to an order issued by the director of the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD). However the water use exemptions must also have the approval of the local water provider, such as a local government or water utility.

Hand watering of existing landscape must be done between midnight and 10 a.m. on designated days based on odd-numbered and even-numbered addresses for no more than 25 minutes. Odd –numbered addresses may water Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday. Even-numbered addresses may water Monday, Wednesday and Saturday. Hand watering is defined as one person with one garden hose with a spray nozzle that shuts off automatically when it is released.

There are no clock or calendar restrictions on the filling of swimming pools, although local water providers must also agree to the pool exemption. The swimming pool exemption was granted due to concerns that neglected and partially filled pools could pose risks to public health and safety, said EPD Director Carol A. Couch.

Director Couch also ordered that people who successfully complete an Outdoor Water Use Registration Program be allowed to water newly installed landscape up to three days a week following the odd-even schedule for a period of ten weeks following planting. Registrants learn proper watering techniques and the importance of water conservation. The Outdoor Water Use Registration Program will be available online at www.urbanagcouncil.com beginning March 15, 2008. Citizens can also contact their county extension agents for information about the registration.

Director Couch also announced that starting April 1, monthly water use in the 61-county drought area would be compared to April-September 2007 average monthly water use. Governor Sonny Perdue has ordered that water use in the region be reduced by at least 10 percent, and emphasized that water conservation goals must still be achieved even with the exemptions.

The Drought Response Unified Command comprises the directors of the Environmental Protection Division of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Georgia Emergency Management Agency, the Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority, and the Georgia Division of Public Health. It was established by Governor Sonny Perdue to coordinate the state's role in mitigating the effects of Georgia's ongoing drought. For more information, visit www.droughtjic.org.

Governor Perdue Signs Water Plan into Law

2/6/08 Today Governor Sonny Perdue signed HR 1022, the Statewide Water Management Plan, that will guide Georgia in managing its water resources. The newly enacted plan will utilize the state’s water resources in a sustainable manner; will support the state’s economy, will protect public health and natural systems, and will enhance the quality of life for all citizens. The resolution was sponsored by Rep. Lynn Smith (R-Newnan) in the House of Representatives and state Sen. Ross Tolleson (R-Perry) carried the resolution in the Senate.

“Water management is one of the most critical issues facing Georgia today,” said Governor Sonny Perdue. “This plan was created by an inclusive process, allowing all parties to contribute and offer their solutions – from local governments to business owners to the agricultural community and the general public. Georgia now has a comprehensive, statewide plan for managing and conserving this precious resource.”

Georgia’s first comprehensive statewide Water Plan was recommended unanimously by the Water Council in January, and both the House and Senate Natural Resource Committees were quick to address it. The Water Plan was passed by both chambers and sent to the Governor for signature yesterday, the 11th day of the 2008 legislative session.

“We have come together to provide Georgians with a clear process for managing the future of our water resources,” said Rep. Lynn Smith. “By approving the Statewide Water Management plan, we are presenting Georgians with the ability to plan and conserve.”

The plan lays out statewide policies, management practices, and guidance for regional planning. The provisions of this plan are intended to guide river basin and aquifer management plans and regional water planning efforts statewide.

“By passing Georgia’s first Statewide Comprehensive Water Plan, we are now able to prepare for the future water needs of our state,” said state Sen. Ross Tolleson. “This plan balances the growth of our state while protecting the needs of our environment.”

Citing risks to public health and safety, Governor Sonny Perdue announced plans today to modify state restrictions on the filling of swimming pools in drought-stricken north Georgia, but will still require that water conservation goals be met. Under a Level Four Drought Response, the filling of outdoor swimming pools is prohibited. Today Governor Perdue announced the lifting of this restriction, allowing outdoor pools to be filled from April through September 2008.

“Citizens should not see this as a signal the drought is over,” said Governor Perdue. “The drought remains persistent and water conservation is our top priority.”

The decision to change the state’s restrictions is based on water use data collected by the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD). However, Governor Perdue emphasized that local governments and water utilities still have the authority to impose restrictions more stringent than state requirements.

Local governments and water utilities in the 61-county Level Four Drought Response area will still be required to achieve the Governor’s water use reduction goal of at least 10 percent. Beginning April 1, the water savings will be calculated using last year’s April-September average monthly water use.

It’s estimated there are approximately 6,500 public pools and 92,000 private residential pools in the Level Four area. According to EPD, those pools will require seven million gallons of water per day from April through September.

“We believe the swimming pool exemption will have only a modest impact on water supply, provided citizens can still meet the required water conservation goals,” said Governor Perdue. “We will continue to closely monitor drought conditions and will re-evaluate the exemptions and make adjustments if needed throughout the spring and summer.”

Some potential impacts if outdoor pools were left empty include collecting stagnant water, cracking or collapsing of pools and posing a safety threat of falling into the empty pool.

This morning, Governor Perdue announced new exemptions to the Level Four Drought Response in addition to outdoor pools. The state will now allow limited hand watering of existing landscapes, a more thorough and beneficial watering schedule on newly installed landscapes and the continued call for 10 percent reductions in use when compared to the summer average from 2007.

“Our hope is that every Georgian who takes advantage of these new exemptions will also help conserve and allow local water authorities to continue to meet the 10 percent reductions,” Governor Perdue added.

More information about the drought and water conservation can be found at www.georgiaepd.com and www.conservewatergeorgia.net.

Governor Perdue Announces more Flexibility in Outdoor Watering Restrictions

Today at the Georgia Agribusiness Council’s legislative breakfast Governor Sonny Perdue announced the state will ease outdoor watering limitations through exemptions to the Level Four drought restrictions implemented in September 2007. Taking this action strikes a balance between sound management of our water resources and support of Georgia’s industries that depend on water use. Governor Perdue also announced that his call for 10 percent water use reductions on water permit holders will continue using last year’s April to September average monthly water use as the baseline.

“Georgians have demonstrated their dedication to a culture of conservation,” said Governor Sonny Perdue. “It is important to continue to encourage conservation with the 10 percent reduction, which I believe we can achieve while also supporting industries that are so essential to our state.”

Hand watering will be allowed for 25 minutes per day on an odd-even schedule between
midnight and 10 a.m. Odd numbered addresses can water on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday. Even numbered addresses can water Monday, Wednesday and Saturday. Hand watering is defined as one person with one garden hose with a spray nozzle that shuts off when it is released.
New professionally installed landscape can be watered up to three days a week from midnight to 10 a.m. for a period of 10 weeks based on the odd/even schedule. The new schedule will help ensure the survival of new landscape without requiring more water than what is being used under the current 30-day exemption.

Anyone wishing to water new professionally installed landscape must register with the Outdoor Water Use Registration Program. The program will be hosted on the Urban Agricultural Council web site at www.urbanagcouncil.com beginning April 1, when the outdoor watering exemptions take effect. Georgians may also contact their county extension agents for assistance in getting registered.

Local governments and water utilities in the 61-county Level Four Drought Response area will still be required to achieve the Governor’s water use reduction goal of at least 10 percent. Beginning April 1, the water savings will be calculated using last year’s April-September average monthly water use.

“These steps will give consumers confidence to buy and plant new trees and shrubbery,” said Governor Perdue. “It will give retailers confidence to stock these items, and it will give producers confidence to grow them. This action will lend renewed strength to the landscaping industry in Georgia.”

More information about the drought and water conservation can be found at www.georgiaepd.com and www.conservewatergeorgia.net.

Governor Perdue also praised the work of the Georgia Agribusiness Council in helping craft the Statewide Water Management Plan, which received final passage in the State Senate yesterday. Governor Perdue will sign the water plan this afternoon, and also announce the state’s decision on outdoor pools.

Statements from Governor Perdue, Lt. Governor Cagle and Speaker Richardson on Statewide Water Plan

Governor Sonny Perdue, Lieutenant Governor Casey Cagle and Speaker Glenn Richardson today released the following statements concerning the Water Council’s passage of the Statewide Water Plan:

“I applaud the Water Council for the passage of the Statewide Water Plan today, and the various external groups that provided input over the last three years of study. This process has been one of the most inclusive and thoughtful that I’ve observed, with each stakeholder having a seat at the table,” said Governor Sonny Perdue. “Water is a vital resource for all Georgians and this plan, which now goes to the General Assembly, gives Georgia a framework for sustaining and protecting water for generations to come.”

“The Georgia Water Council’s approval of the Statewide Water Management Plan today is good news,” said Lieutenant Governor Casey Cagle. “The plan addresses the short term as well as the long term water needs of our state and strikes a balance between conservation and moving forward in providing future storage capacity. It is important that we conserve while not tying the hands of business and economic development.”

“I commend Carol Couch and the members of the Water Council for their more than three years of dedicated work to present a real solution to the legislature,” said Lieutenant Governor Cagle. “Senators Bulloch and Tolleson and all the members of the council should be proud of their work.”

"Water management and drought prevention are the most important issues facing our state today,” said Speaker Glenn Richardson. “The Statewide Water Management Plan is critical to the future of Georgia and helps us take the necessary steps to plan for our continued growth and prosperity. Thank you to all those involved in crafting this plan, specifically Chairman Lynn Smith and Dr. Carol Couch, who have educated House members and kept us all well-informed as the process progressed. I look forward to working together with my House colleagues as we review the plan.”