Drought Watch Continues In Area

Despite significant rains of recent weeks, a drought watch advisory remains in effect in the Rockbridge area and neighboring localities, according to a press release issued last week by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality in coordination with the Virginia Drought Monitoring Task Force.

“While recent rain has helped alleviate dry conditions for the short term,” states the press release, “it has not been sufficient to overcome the deficits observed in soil moisture, stream flow and groundwater levels.”

Tom Stanley, local Extension agent, said he thinks the DEQ press release “really serves as a reminder for the public that even though the growing season is over, the drought continues and many Virginia residents, not just farmers, face significant hardship if ground water levels are not restored over the winter.”

Stanley observed that “from an agricultural standpoint, the damage for now is done. When we failed to get significant rain by Oct. 5 (only about an inch from Tropical System Ophelia Sept. 23) followed by two hard freezes before the end of October, we lost all hope for any significant pasture recovery. Feed supplies for livestock will be tight until spring green-up. However, if we get something close to normal monthly rainfall starting in March, pasture, hay, and crops will recover.”

He continued: “Wells and springs are the thing to watch next. I have heard scattered reports of springs and wells going dry but it is still sporadic.” Based on the DEQ report, he said, “Groundwater levels are currently below the 10th percentile [locally and within the region].”

On an optimistic note, longer-range forecasts, he said, “suggest we should see normal to above normal precipitation levels through the winter months into next summer.”