The S.C. Drought Response Committee upgraded Thursday the drought status for all of South Carolina.
Clarendon County was upgraded to incipient drought status - the lowest one - during a committee meeting held June 19, along with 27 other counties mostly located in the Low country and midlands.
As a result of Thursday's decision, Clarendon's status is now moderate, along with Aiken, Allendale, Barnwell, Bamberg, Berkeley, Calhoun, Charleston, Chester, Chesterfield, Clarendon, Colleton, Darlington, Dillon, Dorchester, Fairfield, Florence, Georgetown, Hampton, Horry, Kershaw, Lancaster, Lee, Marion, Marlboro, Orangeburg, Sumter, Williamsburg and York counties.
All other counties in South Carolina are now in the first level of drought or incipient.
The purpose of the moderate declaration is to increase awareness that drought conditions are intensifying. Water systems are asked to review their Drought Response Plans and Ordinances and implement as needed.
"It's clear that drought is affecting folks all across the state. Irrigation has helped provide moisture to some crops, but it doesn't replace a good soaking rain," said S.C. Department of Agriculture Commissioner Hugh Weathers. "This summer's weather furthers illustrates the partnership that farmers have with Mother Nature. The short-term forecast isn't optimistic, but we'll continue to pray for relief from the heat and drought."
"Duke Energy strongly supports the Drought Committee's moving the drought classification to moderate based on the very low stream flows, dry soil moisture and widespread low rainfall amounts over the last 30 days," said Duke Energy principal engineer George Galleher. "Duke Energy is concerned with lake levels and is carefully managing hydroelectric operations under these conditions."
S.C. Department of Natural Resources hydrologist Scott Harder said streamflow levels have "dropped considerably and are well below normal for this time of year," due to below normal rainfall during the past several months.
"These low streamflows have caused small, but steady declines in most of the state's major reservoirs and most of the reservoirs are currently below their target levels."
"Several farmers in Marlboro County agree that the combination of hot weather and lack of rainfall is having an impact on their farming operations, particular those without irrigation," said Bobby Brock with the Marlboro Water Company and Northeast Drought Committee. "It certainly has affected the corn crop and will impact peanuts and soybeans if we do not get rain soon."
State Climatologist Hope Mizzell said rainfall totals within each county have been highly variable.
"For example, in York County, some areas are reporting less than two inches since June 1, while others have received more than seven inches," Mizzell said. "Since our last Drought Committee meeting in mid-June, rainfall totals have decreased statewide. The drought impacts have been intensified due to the above normal temperatures."
Committee Chairman Ken Rentiers said members will continue to monitor the situation "closely, and if conditions deteriorate, the S.C. Department of Natural Resources will reconvene the committee as needed."
