Drought in the southeast

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  • Authors: Clark, Stacy; Spetich, Martin; Evans, Zander
  • Publication Year: 2008
  • Publication Series: Miscellaneous Publication
  • Source: Forest Wisdom, Vol. 12: 4-13

Abstract

A historic drought gripped the Southeast region in 2007. It was the second driest year on record for the region, and rainfall in some areas including Alabama and North Carolina was the lowest on record for the last century. By the end of 2007, over a third of the region was classified in "exceptional" drought (the worst drought designation used by the U.S. Drought Monitor. See the drought map on the back cover for a more detailed distribution of national drought conditions in 2007.Water levels all over the South fell. The city of Atlanta declared a water emergency because Lake Lanier, which supplies Atlanta's drinking water, was 10 feet below average. Lake Okeechobee in southern Florida was dramatically lower as well. Also during the 2007 drought, Georgia experienced its largest wildfire on record when the Georgia Bay Complex burned 441,705 acres.When added to the other 9,500 fires that year, the total burned was more than 504,000 acres.

  • Citation: Clark, Stacy; Spetich, Martin; Evans, Zander 2008. Drought in the southeast. Forest Wisdom, Vol. 12: 4-13
  • Posted Date: June 2, 2009
  • Modified Date: June 9, 2009

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