Recent rains provided sufficient relief from the drought in 15 South Carolina counties.
“Wildfire activity has been above average for the month of April, exceeding the 10-year average,” said S.C. Forestry Forest Protection Chief Darryl Jones.
We have also not heard of any significant issues related to drought impacts on trees that were planted over the winter.” South Carolina Department of Natural Resources Senior Hydrologist Scott Harder added that improved streamflow conditions in the Upstate supported the removal of incipient drought for the counties of York, Chester, Union, Fairfield, Laurens, Newberry and Greenwood, as well as the Pee Dee region counties.
We will continue to monitor Saluda, Lexington and Richland counties, as they currently remain in an incipient drought status.” According to Athena Strickland, Technical Services Manager for Domtar Paper and Northeast Drought Committee Member, “the Northeast region is looking good… We have received some much-needed rainfall recently and have an outlook of more to come in the near future.
“Orangeburg, Berkeley and Charleston Counties remained in normal status, due to the recent rainfall.
Bamberg, Colleton and Dorchester Counties remained in incipient status due to a lesser amount of rain being received in those areas.
All of the local municipal water suppliers continue to have an abundant supply of water.
The agriculture and silviculture communities in the southern region have adequate moisture but remain cautious as the growing season approaches.” West Drought Committee Member Pickens Williams summarized the status of his area as follows: “The West Drought Management Area along the Savannah River from Abbeville County down to Hampton County remain in incipient drought status.
The winter and early spring rainfalls were below normal for our region, and the recent one- to two-inch rains earlier this week provided only temporary relief.
Some of our soils don’t hold water well, and as the days get hotter the moisture evaporates quickly.