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The state Drought Response Committee meets today to review water levels across the state and possibly recommend mandatory water restrictions. In June the committee upgraded the drought in five Upstate counties to extreme drought, the highest drought classification. The five counties include Greenville, Pickens Spartanburg, Oconee and Cherokee counties. Last month Gov. Mark Sanford urged urged Upstate residents to conserve water or possibly face mandatory restrictions. The law only allows mandatory restrictions for non-essential water use, such as washing cars, lawn watering, ornamental uses such as fountains and filling up swimming pools, said Hope Mizzell, the state’s climatologist. Hot summer temperatures are increasing evaporation, which adds to the drought problem, Mizzell said. Masaaki Kiuchi, the state Department of Natural Resources hydrologist, said the Upstate drought has impacted forestry, agriculture, streams and lakes. link

Combine all the heat with a the major multi-year drought we are experience and it's very bad news. How much longer can we go with so little rain? This is the worst drought I can remember and the lakes are at the lowest levels that I've seen.
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"Linux is more than an OS, it's a state of mind."

Rode over Murray on the way to the beach, they don't seem to be hurting. And the low country seems fine, guess they have been getting more rain that we. You can tell it, the fields are nice an green. Around here, they look burned.

I wonder why there hasn't been restrictions in place already.
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You can't hold a liberal responsible for their words because it's character assassination.

Stopped watering my grass a month ago. I see sprinklers going full tilt every morning. Lots of ostriches in my neighborhood, I guess.
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January 20, 2009 - The End of an Error

Moon Puppy wrote:

Rode over Murray on the way to the beach, they don't seem to be hurting. And the low country seems fine, guess they have been getting more rain that we.

Yep, Murray is 360ft at full pool and it's still at 357ft, but it is dropping. They are keeping Russel high as well, It's only down one foot.

I guess certain lakes are kept as high as possible, for various reasons.

But Hartwell and Thurmond are down 10ft and falling. link

Jocassee is down a whopping 25ft!!

Five more SC counties were just upgraded to extreme drought conditions. Check the map here.
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"Linux is more than an OS, it's a state of mind."

Mrs. RB and I went to Dillard, GA last weekend for the Dillard Bluegrass & Barbeque Festival.

The grass was much greener there and the ground was not powder-dry. They seem to be getting more rain than we are.

By the way, the bluegrass music was awesome and so was the BBQ. We had an apple dumpling with peach ice cream and carmel+cinammon topping that was to die for.
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RunnerBiker ¿
"Live in such a way that you would not be ashamed to sell your parrot to the town gossip." - Will Rogers

RunnerBiker wrote:

Mrs. RB and I went to Dillard, GA last weekend for the Dillard Bluegrass & Barbeque Festival. The grass was much greener there and the ground was not powder-dry. They seem to be getting more rain than we are. By the way, the bluegrass music was awesome and so was the BBQ. We had an apple dumpling with peach ice cream and carmel+cinammon topping that was to die for.

Yum, that sounds like a good time, RB!
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January 20, 2009 - The End of an Error

Quote:

Spartanburg County, July 31, 2008 – Due to the extreme conditions of the drought sweeping across the Upstate, the Commissioners of the SJWD Water District have implemented mandatory water restrictions. Effective July 31, 2008, the following examples of non-essential water usage are now prohibited until further notice: • Sprinkling lawns, plants, trees, and other flora on private or public property including adjoining property owners on our reservoirs • Filling or maintaining public or private swimming pools • Washing any motor bike, vehicle, boat, trailer, airplane or other vehicle in public or private garages or elsewhere • Maintaining fountains or decorative water bodies for aesthetic or scenic purposes, except where necessary to support aquatic life • Washing sidewalks, driveways, parking lots, or other hard surfaced areas • Washing buildings or structures for any reason other than fire protection • Flushing gutters or permitting water to run or accumulate in any gutter or street Failure to comply with the above mandatory restrictions will be subject to surcharges and/or disconnection of water service. link to PDF

I guess on the upside, now you have an excuse not to wash your car.
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"Linux is more than an OS, it's a state of mind."

The river here is down lower than Ive EVER seen it. Ive seen it at it's highest a few times,but never down this low. It looks totally different. Still plenty enuff to swim and cool off tho,for now,and lately there have been days we've been in it.


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The river is way down too, huh Sirwen? That is a real bummer.

Hopefully, we will get some break on the heat. It's should be around 10deg cooler on average the next week, I hope. Rain would be nice.

I'm ready for summer to end.
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"Linux is more than an OS, it's a state of mind."

Me 2, GW, me 2.

Ready for some pumpkin weather.
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January 20, 2009 - The End of an Error