Area Drought Level Remains At Stage 1

CHARLOTTE, N.C.,None — It's been four years since the 2007 drought, and Mountain Island Lake and others have rebounded.

But officials are warning that the area is still at the Stage One drought level.

Joanne Levinsky lives near Mountain Island Lake and remembers the drought.

"There weren't a lot of boats out because the water level was so low," she said. "Especially ski boats couldn't go because the logs were floating up."

The regional drought plan monitors three key areas: dry conditions, lake levels and stream flow.

"The stream flows in the Catawba basin are about 50 percent of what you would see compared to the four-month historical average," said Erin Culbert with Duke Energy.

Stream flow works by feeding lakes through groundwater and streams. If stream flow levels are too high, flooding occurs. If they're too low, lake levels will drop.

Alleviating the drought will not be easy. Severe Weather Center 9 meteorologists estimate that the region will need at least 3 inches of heavy and sustained rainfall before drought conditions ease.

"Certainly if we don't get the spring rainfalls that we need, we could be in a position where we are advancing to Stage Two, which would be the start of mandatory water conservation," Culbert said.

Regardless of the drought stage, residents are urged to conserve water as the spring and summer months approach.

WSOC