Wilkes responds to drought emergency call with encouraging public conservation steps

Wilkes County is among the Georgia counties in a state of emergency due to the current historic drought, and local authorities are taking steps to deal with the water shortage.

No outdoor water use is allowed, including watering lawns and washing cars. "No outdoor water use means just that," said City Administrator Mike Eskew. "We're trying to spread the word and encourage water conservation."

Legal action is not yet being taken against those breaking the ban, Eskew said, but things could change as the water emergency goes on. "Let's conserve what we have, and pray for rain, brother."

During the drought, outdoor water use has been largely banned, with some exceptions, including personal food gardens and many commercial uses in agriculture, construction, and industry.

Commercial car washes may operate, and landscapers are working within restrictions.

Wilkes Emergency Management Agency Director Alan Poss said that he is working with the state EMA to track water levels and usage and to encourage water conservation.

Governor Sonny Perdue an- nounced the designation of 85 counties, including Wilkes, under a state of emergency due to Georgia's prolonged drought.

Perdue also has requested President Bush to declare a major disaster area in Georgia, asking that he use his power under the Endangered Species Act to exempt the state from complying with water reservoir releases that could cause catastrophic harm to those both upstream and downstream, human or otherwise.

"Drought is a natural disaster, and we are experiencing the single worst drought in Georgia's history. On top of that, we are mired in a man-made disaster of federal bureaucracy," said Perdue. "We need to cut through the tangle of unnecessary bureaucracy to manage our resources prudently - so that in the long-term, all species may have access to life-sustaining water."

In his letter to the president, Perdue outlined steps that the state has taken to minimize the impact of the drought, and emphasized the increasingly severe threat to Georgia businesses, industry, economic stability and the health and safety of Georgia citizens. He requested President Bush temporarily exempt the state of Georgia from the Endangered Species Act to reduce the flows from Georgia reservoirs.

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