The summer of 98 will be remembered as dry and the fall wet. This brings water resource issues to the forefront again. Interestingly, the reminder comes at a time when the State is negotiating with Georgia and Florida regarding water flows in the Tallapoosa, Coosa and Chattahoochee Rivers. Both Georgia and Alabama have presented versions of a water plan for allocating water flows, but an agreement may still be a long time coming. If no agreement is reached at that time, the whole process starts again.
Lets hope for agreement soon.
No one can explain the intensity of the heat and drought in the South and West this year. Some say El Nino, others global warming or a warming cycle, but most say they just don't know. Whatever the cause, agriculture in much of the region took a disastrous blow. Current market prices are depressed due to excess total domestic meats on the market. Hence, big time losses will be realized this year with beef cattle.