Despite what some in the community may suggest and despite some media reports to the contrary, your local government properly planned for the drought challenge that is now before us. Without significant rainfall within the next few months, we cannot continue to enjoy the quality of life we have in Athens-Clarke County.  To date our rainfall level for 2007 is approximately 16.3 inches, about 44% below the normal annual average.  This lack of rainfall has caused what is being described as a “100-year drought”.  The drought has grown into an ever more serious event over the last several months. 

 The Athens-Clarke County Drought Management Plan, which is being methodically implemented, was recently singled out by EPD Director Carole Couch as a model for other communities. Let me enumerate some of the actions taken by your local government that merit Director Couch’s confidence.

First, as early as 1996 the Mayor and Commission of the Unified Government had the foresight to begin planning for the Bear Creek Reservoir with our partners from Barrow, Oconee, and Jackson Counties. It is important to note that the reservoir was never intended to be our community’s primary water source. The North and Middle Oconee Rivers are the community’s primary water supply. The reservoir was designed to be a 90-day back up supply in cases of extreme drought, like we are currently experiencing. The reservoir is doing the job it was designed to do.

Second, and perhaps most important, the Mayor and Commission adopted a comprehensive Drought Management Plan in 2000 and updated it in 2004. The plan was developed by the Unified Government’s professional staff in collaboration with a citizen group representing commercial, residential, and institutional users.

How has the plan helped us manage our available water resources? When a 10% reduction in the community’s water usage was needed, on June 26th outdoor watering was restricted to one day per week.  The 10% goal was accomplished. When a 20% reduction was needed, on September 17th all outdoor watering was banned; the 20% goal was accomplished. All of these actions were taken in an effort to extend the community’s water supply until a time when significant rainfall has historically occurred.

None of these decisions were easy. As the governing authority, the Mayor and Commission were called upon to make difficult community value decisions to provide for critical community needs. They have held to those decisions despite unwarranted criticism from some sectors of the community. They may be called upon to make even more difficult decisions if the drought continues and a 30% or greater sustainable reduction in water use is needed. 

The next step in the Drought Management Plan is referred to as “Step F.” It would require allocation of the remaining water resources based upon the priority of uses established in the 2004 Plan. The plan gives first priority for water use to health and public safety; second priority to residential use; and third priority to industrial, commercial, and institutional use.  This is the foundation for the final development of Step F that is currently underway.

Prolonged implementation of Step F has the potential for significant financial impact on our community. Unified Government staff has been cautious and deliberate in developing the implementation elements of Step F for the Mayor and Commission to review. I am confident that the Mayor and Commission will be equally deliberate and timely in its implementation actions.  Implementation too early could cause undue community stress; implementation too late could negate its intended results. 

Third, your local government has engaged the public, especially major water users, in solving this problem. Several major industrial users, with encouragement from elected officials and staff, have voluntarily reduced their water use beyond reduction goals in an effort to conserve the available water supply. Residential users have been diligent in conserving water by complying with the outdoor watering ban and by looking for ways to conserve water indoors. Reports of drought experiences from across the southeast clearly show how proactive our community has been. Significant conservation measures were imposed here in April 2007, far earlier than most of our peer communities experiencing similar drought conditions.

Our community understands the seriousness of the situation and is doing its part to conserve. It is working. We have exceeded the 20% reduction goal and have prolonged the time when more drastic conservations measures may have to be imposed.

Do we have a serious problem? Yes. Is it manageable if we all do our part? Yes. Clearly, without significant rainfall we cannot continue to enjoy the quality of life we are accustomed to in Athens-Clarke County. To suggest, however, that your elected officials and staff have not provided effective leadership to meet this challenge is just plain wrong.

The majority of this column was also printed in the Athens Banner-Herald on Oct. 21, 2007.