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Worsening Drought Conditions for Central NC <br />As of March 34th much of the Piedmont was upgraded to SEVERE drought conditions <br />while the area of MODERATE drought was expanded further east and south. <br />Highlights from Drought Counsel Meeting March 28th <br />Rainfall... <br />Despite rainfall of around an inch on March 20-21 the rainfall received was less than 50% of <br />normal for the 2 week period. Rainfall over the past 90 days across the piedmont was also 50°~6 <br />of normal or less. In some locations rainfall has been only 25°~ of normal. <br />Outlook is for continued below normal rainfall through June with lack of heavy rainfall from large <br />synoptic scale systems and Gulf of Mexico moisture. <br />Streams... <br />From USGS...Of great concern is the fact that stream flows in the piedmont region have <br />dropped to 25-30°10 of normal over the last 7 to 30 days. There is major concern over how <br />rapidly stream flow has diminished despite the rains of December and early January. The rapid <br />drop in stream flow is tied to the drop in groundwater. <br />Stream flows in the piedmont are currently at running at low levels only experienced every 25- <br />50 years based on historical USGS records. <br />Groundwater !Wells... <br />The State monitors 43 wells statewide. 25 of the 43 monitoring wells are reporting water levels <br />below the 25t" percentile while 15 wells are falling below the 10t" percentile. <br />Lakes and Reservoirs... <br />Falls Lake...Current inflow around 119 cfs... normal inflow far early April is 1300 cfs. Despite <br />near normal lake levels the inflow into the lake is an all time record low over the past 76 years. <br />Jordan Lake...Current inflow around 430 cfs...normal inflow for early April is 2500 cfs. Despite <br />water levels just above normal far this time of year inflow to the lake is at an all time low fora 76 <br />year period of record. <br />Kerr Lake... Current inflow around 3500 cfs...normal inflow for early April is 10,700 cfs. Despite <br />near normal water levels for this time of year inflow to the lake is the second lowest on record <br />fora 76 year period. <br />Forestry... <br />Dry spring has resulted in over 2,000 fires burning more than 8,000 acres in the state. Recent <br />rains dowsed several out of control fires in the east. There is concern over the planting of <br />seedlings within tree farms and the lack of rainfall. Tree farmers are being told to plant seeds <br />deeper than normal based an dry conditions and a prolonged dry period will result in the seeds <br />not germinating. Irrigation of the state tree farm near Goldsboro is also of concern if water levels <br />in Little Creek used for irrigation drop below the system intake. <br />