How does long-term drought affect watershed management?
Hook, James*,, Blood, Elizabeth, ABSTRACT- The combination of multi-year droughts in the Southeast and increased water demand for urban growth and agricultural irrigation raised the awareness of water as a limited resource and has prompted a series of policy and cultural changes. Between 1980 and 1995, 11 of the 15 most severe agricultural droughts occurred. Irrigation became a mainstay of production. Meanwhile, Florida and Georgia became the 3rd and 4th fastest growing states. Demand grew for dependable water supplies to drought-proof municipalities and industries. Georgia reservoir construction and requests to alter management of federal reservoirs prompted neighboring states to challenge the US Army Corps of Engineers and Georgia in court. Settlement of these interstate water disputes is still underway, but early in negotiations, it became clear that Georgia would have to develop a culture of water consciousness and carefully plan its municipal and agricultural growth to minimize im
