Drought eases, conservation still urged

Weekend after weekend of rain has helped ease the area’s drought. The Keowee-Toxaway basin has recovered to Stage 1 drought, the second of five drought stages in the drought management plan low inflow protocol. Still, voluntary water conservation continues to be recommended throughout the basin. Today’s announcement by the Keowee-Toxaway Management Advisory Group requests neighbors on lakes Keowee and Jocassee who withdraw water for irrigation to voluntarily limit their water withdrawals to Tuesdays and Saturdays only. According to Duke Energy, lake residents should remember the requirement that they return docks to their originally-permitted locations of docks was extended to follow the water. The Keowee Toxaway River Basin is a tributary to the Savannah River Basin.