It’s hard to believe that Tega Cay, Fort Mill, Baxter Village, Lake Wylie, and other areas of York County have been under water restriction since mid Summer 2007.  Tega Cay has been following Stage 3 water restrictions since October 2007. The Tega Cay Council voted Monday to ease restrictions to Stage 1 voluntary restrictions. You now can water lawns, wash cars, pressure wash, etc with no limitations but are advised to voluntarily conserve water. The goal is to conserve 3 to 5% in overall water consumption.

I took a look at the Catawba-Wateree Drought Management Advisory Group’s Low Inflow Protocol advisory history list. Here is a drought stage timeline of our area:

• June 2007 Stage 0
• July 2007 Stage 1
• August 2007 Stage 2
• October 2007 Stage 3
• January 2009 Stage 2
• April 2009 Stage 1

Stage definintions:  There are 5 stages – from stage 0 (a watch) to stage 4 (emergency – where water supply is in critical situation).

Here is a link to the CW-DMAG April press release with their review and recommendations about the drought conditions.

The bottom of the release states: Rainfall: Through March 31, 2009′s rainfall over the basin has been about 2 inches below long-term averages. The National Weather Service is predicting above normal precipitation for April. May rainfall predictions are for below normal rainfall.

The Tega Cay City Council decided to delay changing the water restriction ordinance until they meet to discuss it again on October 20th.

Right now Tega Cay is still on a one day a week lawn watering restriction. My latest post on Oct 1 reported Rock Hill, Fort Mill and York County have temporarily eased water restrictions by allowing residents to water their lawns 2 days a week until November 30th.

Jonathan Allen of the Fort Mill Times reported Wednesday…

At a special meeting held Wednesday, Oct. 1, city council members discussed following Rock Hill’s lead, but tabled the issue because they couldn’t decide if the ordinance governing the restrictions allows enough wiggle room to change them without changing the ordinance. The council plans to reopen discussion on the restrictions at its next regular meeting Monday, Oct. 20.

Jonathan further reported…

Mayor Bob Runde, who opposed allowing once a week watering last spring, again voiced objections to allowing more water usage during a persistent, severe drought. He also said he didn’t believe the city could go to a modified Stage 2 drought without changing the ordinance, which would require two council votes.

I reported on September 18th the US Drought Monitor run by the University of Nebraska has just changed our rating from severe to moderate. I checked the drought monitor today and we have moved to “abnormally dry”. In addition the Catawba-Wateree Drought Management Advisory Group (CW-DMAG) published a news release on September 26th, 2008 The CW DMAG supports limited, temporary relaxation of outdoor water use restrictions. I am wondering where Mayor Runde is getting his information that we are still in a severe drought. Abnormally dry yes but severe no.

So if you have already aerated and seeded your lawn for the annual fall planting season lets hope it keeps raining to maximize your fall planting investment. If you have not planted yet, you may want to reconsider or adjust your timing. If the city decides to change the water restriction ordinance on the 20th, the change will probably be similar to the York County, Rock Hill, and Fort Mill decision that limits the ease of water restriction only until November 30th. Approx one month of watering two days a week is not a whole lot of time to water lawns for fall seeding.

Here are my links to the articles or data mention in this post

CW-DMAG September 26th News Release
Jonathan Allen’s Fort Mill Times Article
US Drought Monitor Website

Update Jan 2009 – Hereis the updates water restrictions for Tega Cay SC

Drought Restrictions
All residents (TCWS and TCUD customers) can
conduct all water activities (irrigation of lawns and
flower beds, washing cars, pressure washing, etc.)
during the 24- hour period on their approved days
only.

Odd Numbered Addresses- Tuesdays & Saturdays

Even Numbered Addresses- Thursdays & Sundays

Customers are still encouraged to use drip hoses
and hand-held watering devices.  When irrigating,
run-off is strictly prohibited.

Temperatures this week are hitting the low to mid 70′s. How many of you are thinking about getting on the lake? Lake Wylie was hit hard after last summer’s drought conditions. Duke Energy who manages the lake reported last October 2007 a dam lake level of 92.80 feet. Full pond as Duke Energy calls it is 97 feet. Minimum levels are said to be 94 feet. Many of us decided to stay off the lake for a while since many of the boat ramps closed and new rock hazards popped up in the low water conditions. The good news is Duke is reporting this week the lake is at full pond or 97 feet. Most boat ramps have now been reopened. So what are you waiting for? Even thought the lake is up in level now, we are still under stage 3 water restrictions. It will be interesting to see if our current rain pattern will hold to keep the lake level up this summer.

Snowing in South Carolina? We’ll take any precipitation to reduce the our drought conditions even snow. During the night it snowed and rain replaced the snow by early morning. The snow will be gone by mid day. The snow was fun while it lasted.