Thursday, October 21, 1999
Rain, wet winter may ease drought
SW Ohio still seen as 6.41 inches shy
BY DAVID GILLIGAN
The Associated Press
COLUMBUS — A state task force that manages drought-related problems said Wednesday that recent rains and the prospect of a wet winter may give Ohio a chance to recover from one of the driest summers on record.
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FEDERAL HELP
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The 34 counties that have received federal drought relief money and their totals:
Adams ....... $283,500
Athens ....... $81,000
Belmont ....... $84,605
Brown ....... $216,000
Clermont ....... $162,000
Clinton ....... $45,000
Coshocton ....... $189,000
Fairfield ....... $173,520
Fayette ....... $21,600
Gallia ....... $129,600
Greene ....... $108,000
Guernsey ....... $169,380
Harrison ....... $45,360
Highland ....... $154,500
Hocking ....... $32,400
Holmes ....... $28,500
Jackson ....... $128,700
Jefferson ....... $45,360
Knox ....... $8,100
Lawrence ....... $86,400
Licking ....... $27,000
Meigs ....... $54,000
Monroe ....... $109,901
Morgan ....... $101,400
Muskingum ....... $191,600
Noble ....... $145,400
Perry ....... $40,500
Pickaway ....... $34,500
Pike ....... $27,000
Ross ....... $81,000
Scioto ....... $60,300
Vinton ....... $54,000
Washington ....... $75,600
Wayne ....... $172,000
Total: $3,366,726
Reserve: $321,174
Grand Total: $3,687,900
Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture
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The Ohio Drought Executive Committee credited relief to steady rainfall since the end of September. The committee declared northeast Ohio free of a drought but said substantial rainfall is needed to lift water restrictions in 63 communities in 36 counties scattered across the state.
“Just because we've had some significant rainfall recently doesn't mean we're out of the woods, yet,” said Mike Baker, chief of the EPA's drinking and ground water division.
The committee meets monthly to hear updates on drought conditions, damage and prospects for its end. Officials from several state agencies, including the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, the Agriculture Department and the Department of Natural Resources' division of water, are on the task force.
Central Ohio needs 7.02 inches of rain to end the drought, and southwest Ohio needs 6.41 inches, said Jeff Rogers, state climatologist.
David Cashell, a supervisor for ODNR's division of water, said May to September was the driest five-month period on record for southwest Ohio and the fourth driest for central Ohio.
The recent rains eased ODNR's concerns about wildfires from dry wilderness.
“Our level of concern has decreased dramatically over the past month or so,” said Mike Bowden, a fire behavior analyst.
The drought has forced farmers into an early harvest and with the growing season over, they are now concerned with replenishing ground water, said Fred Dailey, director of the Ohio Department of Agriculture.
So far, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has provided 34 counties with $3,366,726 in disaster relief, with $321,174 in reserve. Mr. Dailey hopes there will be more to come.
“We've been working with Congress to provide disaster relief for farmers,” he said.
Alan Ringo, a hydrologist for the National Weather Service, said the weather phenomenon La Nina will bring Ohio a warm, wet winter.
“We will probably see above-average precipitation,” Mr. Ringo said.
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