Although the news media has made a great deal about the frozen stuff falling from the skies, there’s a more important story that they are missing: the fact that liquid is falling at all. Back in early spring of 2013, I was talking with a colleague about the drought issue; I posited then that “eventually the rain pendulum will swing the other way.” Not sure how I nailed it, but indeed that’s what has happened. We ended 2013 with a total of 66.02 inches of precipitation, which is 16.31 inches over our yearly average.
Since 2000, the greater Atlanta area has experienced a series of drought years. Yes, there was the flood of 2009, which dumped a lot of water in 24 hours, but overall for the period from 2000 through 2012 the rainfall deficit was 58.85 inches. During those 12 years we essentially lost an entire of year of precipitation, plus some. So, the rainfall of 2013 was just what the doctor ordered and has served to recharge the groundwater system.
Back on the subject of our cold winter, I was recently surveying a lake via kayak. The lake was about 50% covered with a “thin” layer of ice. As I paddled around, my initial idea of pushing my way through the ice was quickly aborted and I retreated to the safety of open water. The ice on the lake reminded me of a story that I was once told by a farmer friend. Seems he had a blind bull that went missing during an unusual cold snap (it had been so cold, in fact, that the farmer’s pond had frozen over). The farmer looked high and low for the lost bull, to no avail. Then his gaze fell on a hole in the ice on the pond, and suddenly he realized the poor creature’s fate. And that ain’t no Bull –really.
Now, the skies are full of the sights and sounds of the Sandhill Cranes heading north from their winter home in the Okefenokee Swamp. Hopefully they are on to something.
All the best.
Until next time,
Jim
Jim Lanier is President of Aquascape Environmental. He’s succumbed to the lure of creeks, lakes, streams, rivers, wetlands and oceans all of his life. You can read all of his musings here.
