U.S. Water News Online
CHARLOTTE -- The lack of winter rain in central and western North Carolina could become a problem if precipitation doesn't pick up this spring, state officials say.
While eastern North Carolina dries out from last year's hurricanes, a two-year drought is continuing elsewhere in the state.
Most streams in the mountains and western Piedmont are flowing at less than 25 percent of normal for this time for year, according to the state Division of Water Resources. Charlotte's 1999 rainfall total of nearly 35 inches was about nine inches below normal.
The winter dry spell's immediate impact is minimal because few crops are growing and residents aren't drawing down reservoirs by washing cars or watering lawns.
But the lack of winter rain could affect farming and shrink reservoir levels this spring if it continues. Cities, which rely on winter rain to restock their reservoirs, are more likely to run low during the summer without it, meaning water restrictions could reappear.
``They never have fully recovered,'' said Tony Young, chairman of the N.C. Drought Council. ``I'm sure these folks don't want to endure three summers of drought conditions.''
In an unusual move for this time of year, Kannapolis is pumping nearly 9 million gallons a day from two creeks into Kannapolis Lake, the city's water source. The city is trying to bolster lake levels before spring.
Melvin Rape, Kannapolis' public works director, hopes to avoid water restrictions but said he couldn't rule them out.
``One significant rain could bring us right up to level in one quick shot,'' he said. ``But when is the question. We're concerned, but not alarmed.''
Forecasters blame La Nina, a weather pattern that cools Pacific waters and influences much of the hemisphere, for the low mountain stream levels and the possibility of water shortages this summer. La Nina occurs every two to seven years and brings warmer, drier conditions to the Southeast.
La Nina should keep consistent rainfall away from western North Carolina until at least March, and it could lead to another summer of water restrictions and shortened growing seasons for crops.
Eastern North Carolina communities battled the opposite problem, thanks to hur ricanes Dennis and Floyd. Most cities in the eastern third of the state ended the year well above normal after Dennis dumped about 10 inches and Floyd, about 20.
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