By SCBIZ Staff

COLUMBIA -- The S.C. Drought Response Committee will reassess the state’s drought status when it meets next week.

On May 8, the committee declared incipient drought status for the entire state. An incipient drought is the first level of drought, followed by moderate, severe and extreme.

“In the process of moving to incipient, the (S.C.) Department of Natural Resources will increase its monitoring and notify the members of the committee in two-week intervals about levels, flows and rainfalls," said Steve DeKozlowski of the DNR Land, Water & Conservation Division. “If there is a trend that appears to be negative, then we would call a meeting of the committee.”

Any further upgrades of drought would require a decision of the full committee from each drought management area. Areas include Savannah, Santee, Pee Dee and Southern. All water systems and industries are encouraged to closely monitor conditions and review their local drought plans.

“I've talked to a lot of people around the state and no one sees adequate moisture,” said David Tompkins, director of state farmers markets, S.C. Department of Agriculture. “And I think it's important for the public to be aware that we have dry conditions and the potential for it to get worse is there. We've got to get a long period of normal rainfall to get back where we need to be.”

State Hydrologist Bud Badr reported all lake levels are normal, except Lake Murray, which is slightly below normal, and streamflow is also at normal flows for this time of the year. Groundwater levels don't reflect drought conditions at this time.

Since the meeting, rainfall has been much below normal and subsequently most drought indicators, including river flows, are declining, the state climatology office reported.

“(A moderate drought is) highly likely unless we see a major shift in the weather,” Tompkins said.

The DNR will convene the Drought Response Committee at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Ramage Conference Center, 1001 Bluff Road, State Farmers Market in Columbia.