Below normal rainfall and higher than normal temperatures have caused streams to shrink and water reservoir levels to drop in South Carolina this summer.
The Department of Natural Resources’ drought committee on Thursday upgraded the drought classification across the entire state.
Before Thursday, 28 counties were in the first or incipient level of drought. Those 28 counties were bumped up to level 2 or moderate drought status. The state’s remaining counties, including Richland, Lexington and Kershaw, were declared in level 1 drought.
The short-term forecast isn’t optimistic, but we’ll continue to pray for relief from the heat and drought.
S.C. Department of Agriculture Commissioner Hugh Weathers
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In Marlboro County, farmers without irrigation systems are hurting, said drought committee member Bobby Brock of Marlboro Water Co. “ It certainly has affected the corn crop and will impact peanuts and soybeans if we do not get rain soon,” he said.
Below normal rainfall means less water flowing into the state’s water reservoirs, said Scott Harder of the S.C. Department of Natural Resources.
“These low streamflows have caused small but steady declines in most of the state’s major reservoirs, and most of the reservoirs are currently below their target levels,” he said.
The purpose of the drought declaration at this point is to raise awareness in the hardest-hit counties, DNR said in a news release. Water systems across the state are urged to review their drought response plans and local laws and to put into effect measures as needed.
“The short-term forecast isn’t optimistic, but we’ll continue to pray for relief from the heat and drought,” S.C. Department of Agriculture Commissioner Hugh Weathers said.
County drought status as of July 16, 2015
Level 2 or moderate:
Aiken, Allendale, Barnwell, Bamberg, Berkeley, Calhoun, Charleston, Chester, Chesterfield, Clarendon, Colleton, Darlington, Dillon, Dorchester, Fairfield, Florence, Georgetown, Hampton, Horry, Kershaw, Lancaster, Lee, Marion, Marlboro, Orangeburg, Sumter, Williamsburg and York.
Level 1 or incipient:
Abbeville, Anderson, Beaufort, Cherokee, Edgefield, Greenville, Greenwood, Jasper, Laurens, Lexington, McCormick, Newberry, Oconee, Pickens, Richland, Saluda, Spartanburg and Union.
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