Rains restore reservoir to normal level

ATHENS - Officials had feared Bear Creek Reservoir - which serves Jackson and three other counties - could run dry by Christmas, but they now say it should reach full pool by Monday because of recent rain.

They say the 6 inches of rain Athens received last month and early this month have pushed the level of the reservoir back to its normal level. The forecast calls for more rain this week.

Kevin Williams supervises the reservoir. He warns that despite the recent rain, the area remains in a drought. Williams urges residents to continue conserving water.

The National Weather Service says Athens already is running a rainfall deficit of 1.4 inches for 2008.

Bear Creek Reservoir supplies water for Athens-Clarke, Barrow, Jackson and Oconee counties. Williams says as of Tuesday, the reservoir was about 6 inches below its normal level.

He notes that's a drastic recovery for a lake that was 14 feet below its normal level in October.

Athens-Clarke County Manager Alan Reddish projected then that the reservoir would run out of water by Christmas.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2008/1/205870