Michael F. Easley
Governor
State of North Carolina
Office of the Governor
For Release: IMMEDIATE Contact: Sherri Johnson
Date: March 30, 2006 Phone:
919/733-5612
GOV. EASLEY ASKS CITIZENS TO CONSERVE WATER, COMPLY WITH LOCAL
WATER RESTRICTIONS
Drought Persists, Worsens in Central North Carolina; Dry Conditions Encompass Entire State
RALEIGH - Gov. Mike Easley today is asking citizens to continue conserving water as drought
conditions in the state persist. According to state drought experts, although reservoirs and lakes are at
near normal levels, streamflows are low and the lack of significant rainfall for the month of March in
central North Carolina will make it one of the driest in nearly 80 years.
“We have not received sufficient rainfall recently to ease the persistently dry conditions,” said Easley.
“I encourage everyone to adhere to their local water restrictions and make prudent use of this valuable
resource even with the increased demand that spring can bring for outdoor water use to water new
plantings and lawns.”
April is typically the driest month in central North Carolina and recent weather models predict below-
normal precipitation for the next few weeks. Wildfires also continue to be a problem in the state, with
more than 2,600 fires burning more than 9,000 acres since January. North Carolina citizens are urged
to stop burning yard debris until there are a few consecutive days of heavy rain.
North Carolina’s Drought Management Advisory Council (DMAC) met Tuesday and today issued its
latest statewide drought advisory. Though central North Carolina is experiencing the state’s most
severe conditions, every county in the state has some level of drought.
The DMAC’s latest advisory shows 21 counties in the upper Tar River, Neuse River and Cape Fear
River basins moving into severe drought conditions. Those counties are: Alamance, Caswell, Chatham,
Durham, Edgecombe, Franklin, Granville, Guilford, Halifax, Harnett, Lee, Montgomery, Moore, Nash,
Orange, Person, Randolph, Rockingham, Vance, Wake and Warren.
The advisory lists 45 counties as under moderate drought conditions: Alexander, Alleghany, Anson,
Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Cabarrus, Caldwell, Catawba, Cleveland, Davidson, Davie, Forsyth,
Gaston, Gates, Haywood, Henderson, Hertford, Hoke, Iredell, Jackson, Johnston, Lincoln, Macon,
Madison, McDowell, Mecklenburg, Mitchell, Northampton, Polk, Richmond, Rowan, Rutherford,
Stanly, Stokes, Surry, Swain, Transylvania, Union, Watauga, Wilkes, Wilson, Yadkin and Yancey.
Governor's Press Office
State Capitol. Raleigh, NC 27603-8001
(919) 733-5612 - Toll Free 1-800-662-7005
FAX (919) 733-5166
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