georgia's response to the 2006–2009 drought: lessons learned

Georgia's Response to the 2006–2009 Drought:

Lessons Learned

David E. Stooksbury, Ph.D.David E. Stooksbury, Ph.D.

State ClimatologistState ClimatologistAssociate ProfessorAssociate Professor

Engineering and Atmospheric SciencesEngineering and Atmospheric SciencesThe University of GeorgiaThe University of Georgia

[email protected]@engr.uga.edu(706) 583-0156(706) 583-0156

GA Annual Precipitation GA Annual Precipitation 1995-20091995-2009

GA Winter Precipitation GA Winter Precipitation 1995-20091995-2009

GA Spring Precipitation GA Spring Precipitation 1995-20091995-2009

GA Summer Precipitation GA Summer Precipitation 1995-20091995-2009

GA Fall Precipitation 1995-GA Fall Precipitation 1995-20092009

ResponseResponse

Institutional – GovernmentalInstitutional – Governmental

CitizensCitizens

IndustryIndustry

News MediaNews Media

Institutional – Governmental Institutional – Governmental ResponseResponse

June 2006 – Level 1 Drought Management ResponseJune 2006 – Level 1 Drought Management Response

May 2007 – Level 2 Drought Management ResponseMay 2007 – Level 2 Drought Management Response Several local water authorities begin to increase Several local water authorities begin to increase

restrictions during the summer as local conditions dictated. restrictions during the summer as local conditions dictated.

September 2007 – Level 4 Drought Management September 2007 – Level 4 Drought Management ResponseResponse Almost a complete outdoor watering banAlmost a complete outdoor watering ban

October 2007 – Governor orders a 10% reduction October 2007 – Governor orders a 10% reduction below winter base use (Level 4 not effective in below winter base use (Level 4 not effective in winter).winter).


Response Level One – Outdoor water use may occur on scheduled days within the hours of 12:00 midnight to 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. to 12:00 midnight.

Inconsistent Educational Effort

Developing El Nino

Improperly Calibrated USACE Gauge on Lake Lanier


Response Level Two – Outdoor water use may occur on scheduled days within the hours of 12:00 midnight to 10:00 a.m.

“El Nino rains” did not occur

Inconsistent Public Education


Response Level Four – No outdoor water use is allowed, other than for activities exempted in 391-3-30-.05, or as the EPD Director may order.

Water systems in north Georgia in dire straights – pumping from small streams and no reservoirs

Governor forms the Drought Emergency Response team with GEMA, Public Health and EPD as leads

State Climatologists of AL, FL and GA jointly issue a La Nina Watch for fall 2007 and winter 2008

Massive Educational Campaign spearheaded by UGA Extension Service, Georgia Water Wise Council and Conserve Georgia.

Institutional – Governmental Institutional – Governmental ResponseResponse Lessons LearnedLessons Learned

Current Drought Triggers are too complex, spatial Current Drought Triggers are too complex, spatial scale (CDs vs. Watersheds), and temporal scale scale (CDs vs. Watersheds), and temporal scale (Monthly vs. Weekly) need better resolution(Monthly vs. Weekly) need better resolution

Only Level 4 Response has flexibilityOnly Level 4 Response has flexibility

Local water systems need the flexibility to response Local water systems need the flexibility to response more aggressivelymore aggressively

Long-term Changes Long-term Changes Infrastructure Improvements (fixing leaks)Infrastructure Improvements (fixing leaks)

Interconnection of Water SystemsInterconnection of Water Systems

Citizens’ ResponseCitizens’ Response Under Level 1 and Level 2Under Level 1 and Level 2

Perception – we are not in a real droughtPerception – we are not in a real drought Everything is green (we still get 35+ inches of rain a year)Everything is green (we still get 35+ inches of rain a year) Dropping stream levels are hard to detect visuallyDropping stream levels are hard to detect visually A drought is just too many beautiful days in a row (PNK)A drought is just too many beautiful days in a row (PNK)

Mistrust ofMistrust of GovernmentGovernment Climatologists (global warming is a hoax)Climatologists (global warming is a hoax) MediaMedia

Water Conservation FailedWater Conservation Failed Actual usage went up – Seems that the public’s perception Actual usage went up – Seems that the public’s perception

is that we better water on days that we are allowed.is that we better water on days that we are allowed.

Citizens’ ResponseCitizens’ Response

Level 4 and 10% ReductionLevel 4 and 10% Reduction PerceptionPerception

The drought became visible – Lake Lanier and The drought became visible – Lake Lanier and Bear Creek Reservoir for AthensBear Creek Reservoir for Athens

Media started daily Lake Lanier level watchMedia started daily Lake Lanier level watch It became fashionable to show how much one was It became fashionable to show how much one was

conservingconserving

Water ConservationWater Conservation 20% reduction in water use across north Georgia20% reduction in water use across north Georgia

Citizens’ ResponseCitizens’ Response Lessons LearnedLessons Learned

Confusion between drought (climate) and water Confusion between drought (climate) and water resourcesresources

Perception of a lack of fairness and equity – Perception of a lack of fairness and equity – especially along the state borders where GA was especially along the state borders where GA was very aggressive and AL and FL were notvery aggressive and AL and FL were not

Many do not know where their drinking water Many do not know where their drinking water comes fromcomes from

Water Conservation Continued after the droughtWater Conservation Continued after the drought Economics? or Real Change?Economics? or Real Change?

Industry’s ResponseIndustry’s Response

Green Industry- Green Industry- successfully promoted successfully promoted statutory limitations on local government statutory limitations on local government discretion regarding outdoor watering discretion regarding outdoor watering restrictions, new statute required EPD to restrictions, new statute required EPD to approve local changes to state-ordered approve local changes to state-ordered restrictions. Promoted consumer education on restrictions. Promoted consumer education on appropriate watering and drought-tolerant appropriate watering and drought-tolerant landscaping.landscaping.

Water-dependant industrial processingWater-dependant industrial processing- - many industries conducted water audits, many industries conducted water audits, invested in water efficiency (carpet industry, invested in water efficiency (carpet industry, poultry processors) poultry processors)

Media’s ResponseMedia’s Response The GoodThe Good

Did a very good job of covering the initial response level Did a very good job of covering the initial response level changeschanges

Once level 4 response was reached, kept the public well Once level 4 response was reached, kept the public well informed and offered on air resources as well as web-based informed and offered on air resources as well as web-based resourcesresources

The BadThe Bad Lack of journalists educated in scienceLack of journalists educated in science Inconsistent coverage during levels 1 and 2Inconsistent coverage during levels 1 and 2 Emphasis on Lake Lanier, other water suppliesEmphasis on Lake Lanier, other water supplies were in were in

much worse shape – Gave the perception that Lanier was the much worse shape – Gave the perception that Lanier was the only problem – only problem – It wasIt was one of many being responded to by the one of many being responded to by the Governor’s Emergency Management TeamGovernor’s Emergency Management Team

Big Picture LessonsBig Picture Lessons Conservation in non-drought years so that our systems do not Conservation in non-drought years so that our systems do not

become depend on water that will not be available during a droughtbecome depend on water that will not be available during a drought

Although lessons learned provide information for improvement, Although lessons learned provide information for improvement, drought management worked in thatdrought management worked in that NO Georgia community ran out NO Georgia community ran out of drinking water.of drinking water.

Common Regional Framework for basin management and a common Common Regional Framework for basin management and a common set of declarations and responses – across state lines (NIDIS)set of declarations and responses – across state lines (NIDIS)

Preparing, especially infrastructure and education, must be done Preparing, especially infrastructure and education, must be done before a drought.before a drought.

Water Conservation Implementation Plan needs aggressive Water Conservation Implementation Plan needs aggressive implementation (implementation (http://www.conservewatergeorgia.net ) )

georgia's response to the 2006–2009 drought: lessons learned

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