Comments on: Winter Rainfall Not Doing Much to Lessen North Georgia Drought http://www.lawrencevilleweather.com/blog/2008/01/winter-rainfall-not-doing-much-to-lessen-north-georgia-drought.html Comments on the weather in Lawrenceville Georgia Fri, 04 Jul 2008 22:35:01 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Jon Richards http://www.lawrencevilleweather.com/blog/2008/01/winter-rainfall-not-doing-much-to-lessen-north-georgia-drought.html#comment-2534 Jon Richards Fri, 01 Feb 2008 01:28:56 +0000 http://www.lawrencevilleweather.com/blog/2008/01/winter-rainfall-not-doing-much-to-lessen-north-georgia-drought.html#comment-2534 I'm sure that state officials are looking at the chances for improved rainfall this summer, and taking them into consideration in deciding what to do. Part of the problem is that people are asking for answers now so that they can make plans for summer. I think that the consensus is that the La Nina conditions that are likely to reduce winter rainfall will diminish sometime this spring, and that probably has a lot to do with the long range forecast for improved rainfall - that and the possibility of tropical weather. That being said, State EPD Director Carol Couch is supposed to issue watering restriction recommendations tomorrow (February 1st). Supposedly, there has to be four months of improved conditions in order to lift the level 4 watering restrictions. I'm not sure how improved conditions are defined, but so far, December has been the only month with normal rainfall in quite a while, and unless a bunch of rain comes in tonight, January doesn't look real good. No matter what decision she announces, some people are going to be unhappy, and you can look for lobbying to continue. Some of the battle has moved on to the legislature, where a <a href="http://www.legis.ga.gov/legis/2007_08/sum/hb1005.htm" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">bill</a> has been introduced in the House to limit the EPD's authority to close swimming pools due to the drought. I've spoken to a golf course superintendent who told me that the needs of golf courses will be considered when decisions about new restrictions are made. Gwinnett representative Mike Coan told Chamber of Commerce members tonight that in past droughts, the return to normal rainfall has stopped progress on efforts towards ensuring Georgia's water supply. I don't think that this is going to happen this time. The legislature will hopefully follow through and pass bills enabling faster construction of reservoirs and improved management of Georgia's water resources. I’m sure that state officials are looking at the chances for improved rainfall this summer, and taking them into consideration in deciding what to do. Part of the problem is that people are asking for answers now so that they can make plans for summer. I think that the consensus is that the La Nina conditions that are likely to reduce winter rainfall will diminish sometime this spring, and that probably has a lot to do with the long range forecast for improved rainfall - that and the possibility of tropical weather.

That being said, State EPD Director Carol Couch is supposed to issue watering restriction recommendations tomorrow (February 1st). Supposedly, there has to be four months of improved conditions in order to lift the level 4 watering restrictions. I’m not sure how improved conditions are defined, but so far, December has been the only month with normal rainfall in quite a while, and unless a bunch of rain comes in tonight, January doesn’t look real good. No matter what decision she announces, some people are going to be unhappy, and you can look for lobbying to continue.

Some of the battle has moved on to the legislature, where a bill has been introduced in the House to limit the EPD’s authority to close swimming pools due to the drought. I’ve spoken to a golf course superintendent who told me that the needs of golf courses will be considered when decisions about new restrictions are made.

Gwinnett representative Mike Coan told Chamber of Commerce members tonight that in past droughts, the return to normal rainfall has stopped progress on efforts towards ensuring Georgia’s water supply. I don’t think that this is going to happen this time. The legislature will hopefully follow through and pass bills enabling faster construction of reservoirs and improved management of Georgia’s water resources.

]]> By: Lewis http://www.lawrencevilleweather.com/blog/2008/01/winter-rainfall-not-doing-much-to-lessen-north-georgia-drought.html#comment-2533 Lewis Thu, 31 Jan 2008 19:13:19 +0000 http://www.lawrencevilleweather.com/blog/2008/01/winter-rainfall-not-doing-much-to-lessen-north-georgia-drought.html#comment-2533 Just wondering -- what do the state and county officials think about the <a href="http://www.cpc.noaa.gov/products/predictions/multi_season/13_seasonal_outlooks/color/churchill.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">long term precipitation forecasts</a> that predict normal rainfall starting in around May (give or take a month)? How will that affect water supply? Just wondering — what do the state and county officials think about the long term precipitation forecasts that predict normal rainfall starting in around May (give or take a month)? How will that affect water supply?

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