Drought returns to Western North Carolina
After a month reprieve following an early-summer drought, parts of six North Carolina Counties — Haywood, Transylvania, Jackson, Swain, Macon and Graham — are now facing a moderate drought.
Last week’s drought monitor report, amid a recent dry spell, also noted that parts of Buncombe, Henderson, Clay and Cherokee Counties are at least abnormally dry, as are some of several counties in the state’s northernmost mountain region.
Groundwater and surface water reservoirs typically see higher demand for water during the summer, and the ongoing drought conditions could result in water restrictions. Some counties have updated their water conservation status on ncdrought.org.
For areas in moderate drought, or D1, DMAC recommends water users should adhere to local water use restrictions, project water needs and available water supply for 90 days, among other recommendations.