Drought Response Plan Clarke County, Virginia Saving Water/Saving Money: Water Conservation in the Shenandoah Valley March 11, 2009 Alison Teetor Natural Resource Planner Drought Response Plan Clarke County, Virginia Saving Water/Saving Money: Water Conservation in the Shenandoah Valley March 11, 2009 Alison Teetor Natural Resource Planner

Clarke County’s Plan Primary Goals: Local cooperation, informed drought response, and public education within the County. –Drought Indicators –Drought Stages –What happens when stages are declared

Precipitation Deficits Streamflow Statistics Ground-Water Levels Reservoir Storage Virginia Drought Assessment Plan Virginia Drought Assessment Plan

Drought Indicators 3 Main Indicators precipitation stream flow ground water levels Other Drought Status Report Standardized Precipitation Index Palmer Drought Severity Index Crop Moisture Index NOAA monthly and seasonal precipitation outlook

Drought Stage Levels Precipitation Precipitation deficits will be monitored by comparing current precipitation amounts with historical precipitation values as a percent of normal long-term average values. (as of April 18, 2008)

Regional Precipitation Deficit Map

Drought Stage Levels Surface Water (3 local gages)

Dry Marsh Run Opequon Creek Spout Run Blandy Park Rockwood Ridge

Drought Stage Levels Ground Water Above the 25 th percentile = NORMAL Between the 10th and 25th percentiles = WATCH Between the 5th and 10th percentile = WARNING Below the 5th percentile = EMERGENCY

USGS HomeUSGS Home Contact USGS Search USGSContact USGSSearch USGS Virginia Water Science Center home data networks additional data publications VA-WaterWatch contact VA WSC Map data ©2008 Tele Atlas - Terms of UseTerms of Use Map Satellite Hybrid Terrain 2 mi 5 km Zoom In Zoom Out X121 Current Water Conditions for Clarke Co. The USGS provides current ("real-time") stream stage and streamflow, water-quality, and ground-water levels for 4 sites in Clarke County, Va.stream stage and streamflow, water-quality, and ground-water levels Current Water Conditions for the Shenandoah Valley The USGS and Virginia Department of Environmental Quality provide current ("real-time") stream stage and streamflow, water-quality, and ground-water levels for 35 sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia and West Virginia.stream stage and streamflow, water-quality, and ground-water levels USGS HomeUSGS Home Water Resources Biology Geography Geology GeospatialWater ResourcesBiologyGeographyGeologyGeospatial AccessibilityAccessibility FOIA Privacy Policies and NoticesFOIAPrivacyPolicies and Notices U.S. Department of the Interior | U.S. Geological Survey URL: Page Contact Information: webmaster- Page Last Modified: 6-May :00:00 EDT U.S. Department of the InteriorU.S. Geological Surveywebmaster-

Blandy Well Level

Stage Declaration Watch Precipitation at or below normal for time period Stream Flow 10-25% Groundwater 10-25% Warning Precipitation at or below normal for time period Stream Flow below 10% Groundwater below 10% Emergency Precipitation at or below normal for time period Stream Flow at or below 5% Groundwater at or below 5%

Summary: What does the data tell us? Are we in a drought?

Drought Stage Declaration 2 indicators exceed stage level Watch - Encourage voluntary water conservation Warning - goal of reducing total water usage by 5-10% - water use restrictions consistent with local water supply conditions Emergency - mandatory water conservation requirements

QUESTIONS? Contact information Alison Teetor Natural Resource Planner 102 N. Church St. Berryville, VA (540)