DEQ lifts drought watch for much of NRV, Roanoke regions - WSLS 10 NBC in Roanoke/Lynchburg Va
Member Center:
DEQ news release
RICHMOND, VA. – Increases in precipitation in the past
several weeks have raised stream flows, ground water levels and reservoir
stages across most of the Commonwealth. As a result, the Virginia Department of
Environmental Quality has lifted the "drought watch" advisories previously
issued for the Middle James River basin, the New River basin and the Roanoke
River basin.
A drought watch advisory remains in effect for the Upper James River basin,
which has received less precipitation and limited ground water recharge than
other areas of Virginia.
The affected localities and water suppliers for the Upper James River basin include
the counties of Alleghany, Bath, Botetourt, Craig and Rockbridge; the cities of
Buena Vista, Covington and Lexington; and the towns of Clifton Forge,
Fincastle, Iron Gate, New Castle and Troutville.
The main factors contributing to the removal of the drought watch advisories in
the Middle James, New and Roanoke basins include:
• Precipitation amounts since October 1, 2012 (the beginning of the current
water year), now total more than 85 percent of the normal amounts expected for
this time period.
• Stream flows and ground water levels have increased to levels greater than 25
percent of historic recorded flows.
• Levels at several water supply and hydroelectric reservoirs have returned to
full pool elevations.
Statewide information on the current drought status is available on the DEQ
website at www.deq.virginia.gov.
 | 
WSLS 10, P.O. Box 10
Telephone: 540.981.9110 
|
