Drought Conditions

Much-needed rain showers are moving across the Baltimore region, but they haven't significantly helped close a growing precipitation deficit for the year. Radar images have shown a large swath of moisture moving up from western Virginia and North Carolina throughout the day. As of 5 p.m., light rain was reported at BWI Airport and at Dulles International Airport, Winchester and Staunton in Virginia. The National Weather Service reported 0.13 inches of rain BWI. That is the most since 0.69 inches was recorded March 24. It has been since Feb. 29 that the region has gotten at least an inch of rain, as measured at BWI Airport.

Concerned about drought conditions and looming water shortages, the Carroll commissioners urged water conservation yesterday, but stopped short of any kind of a ban on use, including filling swimming pools. "Conservation is important this summer," said Commissioner Julia Walsh Gouge during a meeting on water issues. "Start now." Douglas E. Myers, county director of public works, had suggested an immediate ban on filling swimming pools, a process that consumes thousands of gallons of water every spring.

The Maryland Department of the Environment on Tuesday extended a drought watch to western Maryland and parts of central Maryland. A drought watch was already in effect for the Eastern Shore since April 13. The drought watch includes all of Harford and Carroll counties and parts of Baltimore and Howard counties, as well as Frederick County and points west. It doesn't include areas that get water service through Baltimore city. MDE issues a drought watch when at least two indicators show developing drought conditions.

Because of continuing drought conditions, Hampstead banned the outdoor use of water indefinitely yesterday.Under the mandatory conservation measure, car washing, lawn watering and filling of pools will not be permitted at residences within the town limits. The ban also prohibits businesses from washing down parking lots and sidewalks.Town Manager Neil Ridgely said showers yesterday were not enough to raise the level of wells -- and that several days of rain might not help.Hampstead officials said the ban is necessary to assure adequate quantities of water for drinking, bathing, laundry use and fire emergencies.

Saying that Allegany County residents need "immediate relief," Gov. Parris N. Glendening declared a state of emergency there yesterday because of severe drought conditions that have led to a water supply crisis throughout much of the Western Maryland subdivision.Authorities report that the water shortage is most severe in the Georges Creek and Mount Savage watershed, with the last significant rainfall -- 1.5 inches -- occurring in mid-September.ZTC Virtually no rain fell west of Cumberland in November.

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Faced with more long-range drought conditions in Florida, state officials are seeking $35 million for an aggressive controlled-burning program to prevent a repetition of last summer's fires, which destroyed more than 500,000 acres.The state Agriculture Department, criticized by agriculture groups and timber landowners for not being aggressive enough in using controlled burning before last summer's fires, said it planned to burn considerably more than the 2 million acres of public and private land that were burned in 1998.

Sometimes a little bit goes a long way -- but not when there is a drought.Storms in the area Friday swelled some streams and cooled temperatures a bit, but did not signal an end to the drought.According to the National Weather Service, just under 1 inch of rain fell at the Baltimore-Washington International Airport Friday."Unless we get a continuing soaking rain over a long period of time, we're pretty much at status quo," said Susan Woods, spokeswoman for the Maryland Department of the Environment.

Warning that a six-month drought could lead to "severe" water supply problems soon, the Maryland Department of the Environmental is asking Marylanders to conserve water.Streams, rivers, reservoirs and ground water are at below-normal levels across the state because of rainfall deficits over the past six months, MDE officials said. South-central Maryland has been hit hardest, with more than a foot less rain than normal. The Eastern Shore has seen a 10-inch deficit, while rainfall in Western Maryland has averaged 6 inches below normal during that period.

A Farmer Education/Resource Day will be held from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Nov. 3 at the Maryland Cooperative Extension Office, 330 Montevue Lane in Frederick County. The event will feature information on Maryland's nutrient management regulations, best management practices, financial assistance programs, sustainable agriculture, organic agriculture and marketing strategies for small farm producers. The event is sponsored by the Maryland Small Farm Cooperative. Registrants receive two hours of continuing education credits from the Maryland Department of Agriculture's Nutrient Management Program.

Maryland Cooperative Extension offices will offer free voucher training and renewal courses for farm operators who apply nutrients to 10 or more acres of cropland. The two-hour applicator training course is required once every three years. Training for Cecil County will be held Oct. 30 and Jan. 22. Call 410-996-5280 to register. Harford County training will be Nov. 1. Call 410-638-3255 to register. Loans offered for drought damage Two loan programs have been established - one for farmers and one for small businesses - for damage done by this year's drought.