Access Atlanta > The Newcomer > Archives > 2008 > August > 20
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Newcomers Guide to Drought.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
This is drought?
A newcomer pal moved here from the desert of Arizona. As far as he and his fiance are concerned, you can shower just by stepping outside in Atlanta. (I exaggerate; it is a shower, but it’s not as unpleasant as he first thought.) This did not seem like drought.
Believe it. Even with more-than-usual rain last month, we’re deep in drought.
This photo from Shoal Creek cove area at Lake Lanier was shot in June 2008. That dock used to float.
If you’ve been around, you know the story: the beach-less weekends, the high water bills, the low-flow toilets, the angry red blot over the the northeast chunk of Georgia.
If you haven’t, here’s a quick explainer: droughts are cyclical. No matter how responsible you are with your sprinkler, they happen. Atlanta had a pretty rough one 1999-2001. This one is worse, and after more than two years, there’s no end in sight. Most of Georgia is in a severe drought, Atlanta included. The areas that hold our water are in the scarier “extreme” and “exceptional” categories. (Remember, angry red blots. Check it on the map.)
What makes it stick around? Low rainfall, and too much drain on the main water sources. The Atlanta metro area relies on Lake Allatoona and Lake Lanier for water. Allatoona is full, but could drain quickly. Lanier, which is much larger, is setting new records for low levels every day. (Here’s a great story about why one is full and the other isn’t.)
What could get us out of it? Well, the old record for low levels in Lake Lanier was set in December 1981 — we’ve so broken that record now — and “epic rainfall” snapped us out of that drought within months. Yes: a hurricane or a tropical storm shooting up from the Gulf, or maybe over from the East, would help our drought. Consistent rainfall, especially in winter, would help, too. We were way up last month, when it all evaporated away, but June was way down. Here’s the area’s rainfall scorecard.
What can you do about it, oh newcomer?
First, don’t move here expecting to maintain a very Southern yard with a clean white porch, blooming azaleas and vast stretches of green. Consider some drought-friendly, low-maintenance landscaping, like folks in this story by Katie Leslie.
Second, reduce water use. There are tons of tips, ideas and rules to live by. And even more in our summer 2008 drought survival guide. They work! Water use was down 20 percent in June, and 15 percent in July! Go us!
Third, consider where you plan to buy or build. Development in the watershed surrounding Lake Lanier only makes drought worse. Protect wetlands and build wisely.
We’re expecting 4 million people to use a limited supply of water from fragile, man-made lakes. Reporter Stacy Shelton described it to me this way: it’s like setting a barrel outside and expecting it to capture enough water for a family of twelve. When mom is pregnant. With triplets. If it’s raining long often enough and hard enough, the family will be fine. But when it stops, somebody’s going thirsty.
Newcomers, were you expecting drought when you arrived, and how have you handled it? Long-timers, what’s your drought survival advice?
