Most of Georgia has had a dry late summer. Hydrologic conditions
across the state have not improved. Across much of the northern
two-thirds of Georgia, agricultural drought has returned.

Late summer’s dryness prevented recharge of the hydrologic
systems across the state. Groundwater levels are near last year’s
lows, with some places near record low levels. This is especially
important in south and coastal Georgia, where groundwater is the
major source of fresh water.

Stream flows in the mountains, the piedmont, the northern coastal
plain, and the southwest corner of the state are extremely
low.

Georgia rivers with very low levels include the Little River near
Washington at 6 percent of normal flow, the Flint near Griffin at
16 percent, the Ohoopee near Reidsville at 18 percent, the Broad
near Bell at 25 percent and the Oconee near Athens at 38
percent.

Only southeast and south central Georgia have above normal stream
flows. Above-normal flows are reported in the St. Marys-Satilla
and the Suwanee-Ochlockonee River Basins. These basins had
generous tropically induced rainfall during the past few
weeks.

Major reservoirs across north and central Georgia remain well
below summer full pool. Reservoirs at least 5 feet low include
Allatoona at 5 feet, Clarks Hill and Hartwell 7 feet and Lanier
10 feet.

Agricultural Drought Back

Because of the dry conditions since Aug. 1, the northeastern
coastal plain and the central and eastern piedmont have returned
to agricultural drought conditions.

Crops, pastures, lawns and landscapes are showing drought stress.
Cities in the region include Athens, with 21 percent of normal
rainfall, Atlanta (31 percent), Augusta (64 percent), Dublin (50
percent), Statesboro (25 percent) and Vidalia (50 percent).

Most of north Georgia had below-normal rainfall during the past
seven weeks. From Aug. 1 through Sept. 18, the percentage of
normal rainfall received included 47 percent at Watkinsville, 59
percent at Rome, 61 percent at Calhoun, 62 percent at Dunwoody
and 66 percent at Gainesville.

Across middle Georgia, the percentage of normal rainfall over
the past seven weeks include Griffin at 41 percent, Dearing at 44
percent and Eatonton at 55 percent.

Soil Moisture Low

More important than the rainfall deficits is the actual loss of
moisture from the soils. Soils lose moisture through evaporation
and transpiration (plant water use).

Between Aug. 1 and Sept. 18, soil-moisture losses in north
Georgia include Watkinsville at 5.85 inches, Calhoun 4.13,
Dunwoody 3.62, Duluth 3.52, Gainesville 3.40, Rome 3.31 and
Dallas 2.60.

In middle Georgia, soil-moisture losses include Midville at 6.61
inches, Griffin 5.85, Eatonton 4.73, Dearing 4.43 and Cordele
4.11.

And in south Georgia soil-moisture losses include Statesboro at
6.39 inches, Tifton 4.72, and Vidalia 4.71, Savannah 2.68 and
Plains 2.16.

Peanut Farmers Need It Dry

While many Georgians would like some rain, many peanut farmers
would prefer a few more weeks of dry weather. The peanut harvest
is in high gear and will benefit from a dry period. The state’s
wineries, too, will benefit from a dry August and September.

There is little hope for long-term relief during the next three
months. September through November is historically Georgia’s
driest period.

Without rainfall from tropical weather, there is little chance
that the state will receive enough widespread beneficial rain to
end both the hydrological drought and the agricultural
drought.

A wetter-than-normal winter is the best hope for Georgia to
emerge from the long-term drought.