What to make of today’s rain?

Outside workers are trying to find something to do inside as the Golden Corner enjoys a drenching rain. On this rainy day, the Corps of Engineers issued a reminder that, in spite of above average rain since last month, the basin remains in drought. Col. Jeff Hall, Savannah District Commander, says the river basin experienced “some relief” in December. Though much of the rain went to recharging the dry ground, some of it turned into runoff that raised lake levels a little more than one foot. December’s relief followed November’s ranking as one of the driest months in ten years. The average rainfall for November at the Hartwell sub-basin is 4.6 inches, but November 2012 saw less than one inch. Lake Hartwell and the rest of the Savannah Basin aren’t alone in the drought crisis Ben Turetsky of Friends of Lake Keowee reminded yesterday’s Oconee Alliance of the predicament which has befallen the Mississippi River and its shipping lanes, and questioned how a dry Mississippi might impact the economy.