Causes of Drought in Southeastern United States

While the focus of the current drought in the American Southeast is centered on Lake Lanier, a lake in Buford, Ga. that has seen its level drop more than 8 feet below average, one question that doesn't seem to be asked is "why?"

Forecasters and locals spend their time worrying about the rain, and when it will come, but is the real reason lakes and wells are drying up a lack of this season's rain? No doubt it has an effect, but could the current global climate change be a reason? Why has this year's hurricane season been so mild for the Southeast? Could over-development in the area be partly responsible?

The Army Corp of Engineers, the same guys who say New Orleans is safe when little to nothing has been done to protect it from another category 4 or 5 hurricane, says Northern Georgia has a 280 day supply of water. Strange then that the environmental director of Georgia says it's only 80 days. Georgia, Alabama, Florida and the Carolinas are all starting to fight over their water supplies. (Copeland, 2007)

Bush's tri-state water deal that decreases the river flow from the Atlanta area by 16% has not made Governors in Florida and Alabama happy. They depend on the water for their citizens. The National Weather Service's Climate Prediction Center estimates that the drought in this area will persist.

Where can folks in the Southeast get fresh water? "In 1950, under a congressional mandate, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers began draining the Everglades through a series of levees and canals. Much of the drained water was-and still is-dumped into the ocean." (Smith, 2000) The Army Corps of Engineers, the same agency responsible for draining Lake Lanier, should look no further than themselves. Instead of continuing to allow the fresh water from the Everglades to dump into the Gulf of Mexico, why not divert or catch some for the folks just north suffering severe drought?