You may not have noticed, but much of North Georgia is currently in a severe drought, with the U.S. Department of Agriculture declaring a natural disaster declaration across 11 counties last week. The declaration allows the USDA’s Farm Service Agency to extend emergency credits to farmers in affected areas – some of whom are unable to plant grains for spring harvest because the ground has been too dry, and others who need to buy extra feed for livestock because pastures are too dry for grazing. Meanwhile Alabama officials launched their latest salvo in the never-ending ‘Water Wars’ saga between Georgia and its neighbors – and the Peach State scored another win. Alabama had filed lawsuits demanding that a 2015 water management plan be thrown out so that more water from Allatoona Lake, mainly in Bartow County in northwest Georgia, be sent their way. But last Thursday a federal judge sided with Georgia, notching another victory and allowing farmers and other North Georgia residents to breath a sigh of relief. While scientists hope for El Niño to bring a rainy winter, for now look for Allatoona and other reservoirs to dip a little lower than normal as the drought wears on.
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