With the southeastern United States in the midst of an extensive drought, officials in Gwinnett County, Georgia, have asked residents to engage in water conservation.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers predicts Lake Lanier's water mark to be 10 feet below normal by mid-October. The county's water department is conducting a free clinic regarding water conservation on November 3rd in the Gwinnett Justice and Administrative Auditorium.
"Residents need to be aware that we are in another drought and remember how important it is to save water since we don't know just how much rain we'll get this winter," said water resources director Lynn Smarr.
Last June, then-Governor Sonny Perdue visited Lake Lanier to sign the Water Stewardship Act of 2010, which created incentives for water conservation planning and requirements. The legislation will go into effect in July of 2012.
The U.S. Drought Monitor recently released Southeaster U.S. statistics, and data suggests drought issues have decreased since last week. However, the majority of Georgia still falls within the monitor's D3 range, which designates extreme intensity.
