NE Georgia reservoir reported full despite drought

WATKINSVILLE - A utility official says a reservoir that supplies water for several northeast Georgia counties is full despite recent drought conditions.

Chris Thomas, Oconee County's utility department director, says Bear Creek Reservoir is at full pool. The reservoir provides drinking water for Jackson, Barrow and Oconee counties, and Clarke County draws on it during droughts.

Thomas says managers can top off the reservoir after heavy rains by pumping water into it. He says Athens-Clarke County has been taking water from the North and Middle Oconee rivers because the flows there have been high enough.

State climatologist David Stooksbury says rivers are approaching a point where utilities won't be able to pump water from them.