Drought easing in OC

The wet weather so far this winter has been a blessing for Oconee County as much of the state is still mired in moderate to severe drought. South Carolina’s Drought Response Committee voted Thursday to upgrade several counties in the Savannah River Basin from severe to moderate drought status.  Oconee, Pickens and Anderson counties were all reclassified as being in moderate drought status.  State monitoring stations have recorded over 18 inches of rain in Oconee County since December 1.  The heavy rains in the Golden Corner and surrounding tri-county area have helped to refill aquifers and raise groundwater levels. The heavy rains over Hartwell Lake over the last six weeks are good news as well for farmers and lakefront residents, as the moisture soaks into the soil and leaches out into streams and lakes.