Corps of Engineers ceases drought operations

The US Army Corps of engineers said that drought conditions throughout many areas of the Southeastern United States have begun to improve and they are now able to end drought operations when managing the Apalachicola Chattahoochee Flint River System.

When operating under drought operations, the minimum flow into the Apalachicola River becomes 5,000 cubic feet per second to protect threatened and endangered species.

There have been concerns that the low flows into the river have added to the stresses that have severely damaged this year’s oyster crop.

The Corps has been in drought operations since May 1st, 2012.

Significant and frequent storms events have recharged the basin hydrology allowing the return to normal operations.

The Corps says the long-term outlook for rain is also promising – the drought monitor shows the ACF basin returning to normal conditions this year.

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