Heightened Drought Response Coming Soon, Gov. Deal Says

In this Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2016 photo, a sunken boat is exposed by receding water levels on Lake Lanier as U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Natural Resources Manager Nick Baggett looks on in Flowery Branch, Ga. Some of the South’s most beautiful mountains and valleys this fall are filled with desperation, as a worsening drought … Continued

David Goldman / Associated Press

Restrictions on car washing, lawn watering and even running ornamental fountains could be coming to Georgia “very soon,” according to Gov. Nathan Deal.

“Obviously the best answer to all of this is to have rainfall,” Deal said, “But we can take proactive steps to try to preserve and conserve as much as possible.”

Much of Georgia is suffering from extreme drought conditions. In early September, the Environmental Protection Division announced a Level 1 drought response in 53 counties. It requires a public information campaign on conservation, but no water use restrictions.