Dakota
Well-known member
By Joel Moroney
jmoroney@news-press.com
Originally posted on September 29, 2007
Despite more than 20 inches of rain in two months, South Florida is primed for a winter drought the likes of which it has never seen.
"This is a very, very serious situation with about a month to go in rainy season," said Randy Smith, spokesman for the South Florida Water Management District. "We'll go into a dry season at the lowest (Lake Okechobee) has ever been — it's worth absolutely nothing for environmental releases or water supply. That means the primary backup for 5 or 6 million people doesn't exist."
The impacts will be felt before the rains return next spring, and could include even tougher water restrictions, high fire danger, water shortages and higher food prices amid what the agriculture industry estimates could be $1 billion in farm losses.
"Six months from now is when we are going to feel the pain," said Eric Swartz, a meteorologist at the water district's emergency operations center in West Palm Beach.
This year's average wet season has not been enough to bring Lake Okeechobee out of the depths caused by a two-year dry spell dating back to Hurricane Wilma in October 2005. The lake is a critical indicator of system hydration as South Florida drains from Orlando to the Florida Keys.
http://www.news-press.com/apps/pbcs.dll ... 90424/1075
jmoroney@news-press.com
Originally posted on September 29, 2007
Despite more than 20 inches of rain in two months, South Florida is primed for a winter drought the likes of which it has never seen.
"This is a very, very serious situation with about a month to go in rainy season," said Randy Smith, spokesman for the South Florida Water Management District. "We'll go into a dry season at the lowest (Lake Okechobee) has ever been — it's worth absolutely nothing for environmental releases or water supply. That means the primary backup for 5 or 6 million people doesn't exist."
The impacts will be felt before the rains return next spring, and could include even tougher water restrictions, high fire danger, water shortages and higher food prices amid what the agriculture industry estimates could be $1 billion in farm losses.
"Six months from now is when we are going to feel the pain," said Eric Swartz, a meteorologist at the water district's emergency operations center in West Palm Beach.
This year's average wet season has not been enough to bring Lake Okeechobee out of the depths caused by a two-year dry spell dating back to Hurricane Wilma in October 2005. The lake is a critical indicator of system hydration as South Florida drains from Orlando to the Florida Keys.
http://www.news-press.com/apps/pbcs.dll ... 90424/1075