Mitigating Drought

 Mitigation Tools for States

 Case Study: South Carolina

Five agencies had primary responsibility for drought mitigation in South Carolina in 1986. Their actions included the following:

South Carolina Water Resources Commission (WRC)

• The WRC administered the Drought Response Act of 1985. Mitigative measures in this act included the Drought Information Center, Drought Response Committee, and drought response plans.
  – The Drought Information Center administered state water conservation efforts, issued weekly reports of drought conditions, and coordinated regional drought response meetings in affected areas.
  – The Drought Response Committee encouraged voluntary water use restrictions for affected areas of the state and urged local governments to develop drought ordinances or plans in compliance with the Drought Response Act. According to several public water suppliers, voluntary water use restrictions were successful and helped reduce the stress on water systems during peak demand.
  – WRC prepared a model drought response ordinance for local water supplies to use as a guide in the development of specific drought contingency plans. Local ordinances were to be adopted by November 1987.

South Carolina Emergency Preparedness Division (EPD)

• Provided the Emergency Operations Center for Operation Hay-lo in July and August 1986; provided personnel and equipment to assist the Department of Agriculture and Clemson University Extension Service in operating the center
• Coordinated efforts of county organizations and other state agencies in equipment and manpower for unloading hay delivered by aircraft, trains, and trucks
• Collected data and reported to WRC weekly on status of reservoirs, wells, and rivers; conservation measures being taken; plans for critical water supplies; and identification of areas of extreme emergencies
• Coordinated procurement of a water trailer for community of Piedmont when wells became dry and contaminated
• Assisted local organizations in preparing drought news releases and hay shipment operations

South Carolina Department of Agriculture and Clemson University

• Provided farmers with information on handling the effects of drought, including alternatives for livestock care and feeding; information provided through meetings, the media, newsletters, and on-farm visits
• Coordinated Operation Hay-lo, an effort to distribute hay for livestock feed to distressed farmers; other agencies involved were EPD and the Governor's Office of Transportation. Media reported that this effort was the most efficient system among the various drought-affected states receiving hay shipments from other states

South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control—Bureau of Water Pollution Control

• Carried out its established comprehensive monitoring strategy, which was designed to determine water quality conditions under varying environmental conditions (including drought)
• Conducted additional streamflow measurements at selected primary stations during July and August 1986
• Surveyed public water systems to ensure proper operations and safe production of drinking water

South Carolina Forestry Commission

• Issued news releases and provided information to landowners
• Conducted sample seedling survival checks
• Coordinated with U.S. Forest Service, other federal agencies on drought-related assistance available to landowners and supporting agencies
• Responded to additional requests from forest landowners, Christmas tree growers, urban residences on drought-related problems
• Made aerial flights to detect southern pine beetle activity

Local government

• Implemented water use restrictions, including prohibiting landscape watering, filling swimming pools, washing vehicles, and commercial water use requiring large quantities of water

(Summarized from Wilhite, D.A. 1993. Drought Mitigation Technologies in the United States: With Future Policy Recommendations. Final Report of a Cooperative Agreement between the Soil Conservation Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture; and the International Drought Information Center, University of Nebraska–Lincoln. IDIC Technical Report Series 93–1, International Drought Information Center, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska.)

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