By David Emory Stooksbury
University of
Georgia
As Geogia enters the heart of the growing season, mild
agricultural drought conditions have returned to much of north
and central Georgia. The remainder of the state is abnormally dry.
Mild drought conditions exist primarily south of a Polk
County-to-Stephens County line and north of a Quitman-to-Lincoln
County line. Most of the remainder of the state is quickly
approaching mild agricultural drought conditions.
Soil moisture levels in southeast Georgia are near normal for
mid-June.
Tropical weather system Alberto is bringing some moisture relief
to south Georgia on Tuesday. Until the final track and timing of
Alberto is known, though, the impact on the moisture supply in
Georgia won’t not be known.
High water use by plants and high evaporation rates associated
with temperatures in the mid to upper 90s have caused soils
statewide to become very dry.
Hot crops
The immediate agricultural concerns are with corn and pasture
conditions. Corn has started to pollinate across the state. Hot
and dry conditions during pollination cause major reductions in
corn yields. Pasture production is also being negatively
affected. This impact will hurt livestock and dairy operations
and could linger into the winter.
Rainfall during the cool season, October through March, was low
across most of the state. Because of the dry cool season, the
soil moisture was not adequately recharged to provide a buffer
for a period of little rain and high temperatures.
During the past 30 days, the following University of Georgia
automated weather stations are among the 28 receiving less than 1
inch of rain: Alpharetta, Arlington, Brunswick, Pine Mountain,
Camilla, Cordele, Covington, Dawson, Duluth, Eatonton, Fort
Valley, Gainesville, Griffin, Statesboro, Valdosta, Vidalia and
Watkinsville.
Low streams
U.S. Geological Survey stream gauges are showing low flows across
the entire state. Many streams are near the 10th percentile for
the date.
At the 10th percentile, we expect the stream flow to be greater
than the current value in 90 years out of 100 for the current
date.
Based on USGS data, groundwater levels were showing good recharge
in November and December 2005. However, with abnormal dryness
during the late winter and early spring, groundwater levels were
beginning to drop by mid-April. By June, levels were below normal
statewide and still dropping.
The normal recharge season for groundwater is over. So levels are
expected to keep dropping through summer into fall.
The state’s major reservoirs are in good shape now. However,
water levels are starting to drop. Farm ponds are showing the
impacts of the dry, hot weather.
Watering
Georgia is now under the normal odd-even outdoor water use
schedule. Odd-numbered addresses may water only on Tuesdays,
Thursdays and Sundays. Even-numbered and unnumbered addresses may
water only on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. There are no
hour limits.
Local governments and water providers are authorized to implement
more stringent outdoor water use schedules within their
jurisdictions. Some water providers, especially around Atlanta,
are starting to implement more stringent outdoor water use
requirements.
Comprehensive updated information may be found at www.georgiadrought.org.
Real-time weather conditions, including soil moisture balance,
may be found at www.georgiaweather.net.
(David Stooksbury is the state climatologist and a professor
of engineering and atmospheric sciences in the University of
Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.)
