The Drought Continues -- Please Do Your Part to Conserve Water
North Carolina State University is supporting Governor Easley's mandate to decrease water consumption by 20 percent immediately, and to follow the City of Raleigh's mandatory water restrictions.
The current federal drought map shows the drought has spread to all 100 of the state's counties. Exceptional drought is now in 12 counties in western North Carolina. Extreme drought has moved from the Piedmont to the coastal plain and is affecting 28 counties. Severe drought is in 44 counties and has spread to Wilmington and other southeastern communities. The remaining 16 counties are in moderate drought. The drought map can be found at.
"Stream flows and groundwater levels are approaching their lowest levels in recorded history and many of our reservoirs are declining by one foot every 10 days," said Easley. "We all must conserve if we are to, in any way, minimize the impact of the drought."
While there have been brief, isolated storms recently, weather forecasters predict no relief to the drought that is drying reservoirs, devastating farm crops and livestock, and leaving homeowners with brown lawns and dying plants. Reduced water levels have forced the closing of some recreational facilities at state lakes. In addition, the lack of rain in recent months has dried out vegetation so much that the N.C.Division of Forest Resources has imposed a statewide ban on open burning and cancelled all burning permits.