Rain ends problem locally -- for now

Apr 22, 2009      The Times and Democrat

Gene Zaleski

Apr. 21, 2009 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- For the first time in two years, The T&D Region is no longer in a drought.

The S.C. Drought Response Committee, a division of the S.C. Department of Natural Resources, reduced the region's drought status from incipient to normal April 15 due to rainfalls received over the past several weeks.

The normal status is the lowest on a drought severity scale of five. The last time the region was "normal" was February 2007.

"I don't think we are completely out of the woods yet," said Fred Boatwright, Orangeburg Department of Public Utilities manager. "I hope this trend continues. None of us knows what the summer will bring."

Boatwright represents municipalities on the Drought Committee's Southern Drought Management Area, which consists of six counties including Orangeburg and Bamberg.

The T&D Region counties have been classified in incipient drought since September 2008. The region was in a severe drought -- the fourth highest stage -- in January 2008.

Boatwright said DPU specifically benefits from consistent rains because during dry periods the water in the Edisto River, from which the utility draws, drains into swamps. Bursts of heavy rainfall will then cause these swamp waters to drain back into the river.

"It affects the quality of the water in the river," he said. "We have to add more chemicals and there is a lot more effort to making the water look like it looks and to taste the way it tastes."

Through April 20, DPU reports 13.35 inches of rain have fallen in Orangeburg. The normal year-to-date rain total is about 13.9 inches.

In the month of April, the utility reports about 4.09 inches of rain has fallen through April 20, compared to the normal for the month of about 1.77 inches. DPU records have been taken since 1992.

Average river flows through Orangeburg are currently about 572 million gallons a day. The utility is pulling out about 6.5 million gallons day.

At the height of the drought seven years ago, river flows were about 90 million gallons a day.

Currently, the river is at 155.6 feet above mean sea level. The current levels compare to record low river levels seen in August 2002 of 151.8 feet.

Cope farmer Jim Traywick, also a member of the regional drought response committee overseeing the agriculture sector, says in the world of agriculture farmers will often find themselves one day praying for rain and then the next day praying for it to stop.

Right now prayers are for Mother Nature to hold off on the rainfall at least for the short term.

"If we get any more rain we will be held up and we can't plant," Traywick said. "It is just about too wet to get much done."

Currently, Traywick said farmers are in the process of planting corn and getting ready to plant cotton and peanuts.

Bill Marshall, S.C. Department of Natural Resources conservation program manager and treasurer of the Friends of the Edisto, a non-profit Edisto River conservation group, said rainfall will really be needed in the critical summer months when water needs increase.

"Everything begins to heat up in May," he said. "Trees are like pumps. They start having significant water requirements. A major portion of the rainfall gets sucked up in the trees."

Marshall said despite the reduction in status, individuals should still conserve water, which is always a good practice. He more water will mean greater river navigability.

"Generally, the more water you get, you have more options of getting around the logs," he said.

Dr. Bud Badr, hydrologist with the DNR, said he would not go so far as to say the drought is completely over, but he did note the current situation is beneficial especially to the fish habitats.

He said in 2003 -- the year after the four-year drought broke -- fishing improved.

"In 2003 it was the best environment for fishing and I am assuming this will be the case again in 2009," Badr said. "When you go and flood the river basin and the water sheds after a long period of drought, that will have a very significant impact."

Badr said with more water, fish have a larger surface area and greater vegetation to spawn.

"We have to inundate the watershed with flood events like Mother Nature from time to time," Badr said. "The rains replenish the shallow aquifers and the system. It is healthy for the groundwater to be recharged."

While the Orangeburg area saw its drought classification reduced, Upstate counties remained with a moderate drought declaration.

Despite the recent rains and drought improvement, officials say the state is still in a 10-year drought cycle.

The DNR will continue to monitor the drought status and if rainfall is reduced, the committee will reconvene.

Newstex ID: KRTB-0075-34333913

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