Lack of rain in the Shoals taking its toll on fishing, farming

Jeffrey Harvey is ready to ask for help from above to snap out-of a drought that's taking a toll-on fishing, farming and other-activities.

"We need some rain. Maybe if everyone would pray, we would get some," Harvey, of Killen, said Monday while looking over rocks and other obstructions in Pickwick Lake that have been exposed by low water levels.

Rainfall in the Shoals is more than 7 inches below normal this year.

Rain is possible today, but forecasters said it will be far too little to end the drought.

"In the 21 years I've been alive, this is the lowest I've ever seen the water. When the water level is this low, the fishing is really poor," said Harvey, an avid angler.

Ardell Barnett, of Leighton, caught several small, white bass and bluegill Monday while fishing from a boat dock in Florence harbor. He lamented the low water levels.

"The big fish aren't biting. Fishing is usually pretty good this time of year, but the water is usually a lot higher than it is now," Barnett said.

Randy Kerr, manager of river forecasting for the Tennessee Valley Authority, said the lack of rain has forced the federal utility to scale back electricity production and water releases at its hydroelectric dams such as Wilson and Wheeler.

"It has us concerned. We're not ready to hit the panic button yet, but we're definitely concerned about the lack of rain," Kerr said.

Rainfall for December, January and February in the portion of the Tennessee Valley north of Chattanooga, Tenn., was the lowest in 117 years of record-keeping, Kerr said. Rainfall for the three-month period in the portion of the Valley that includes the Shoals was the fourth lowest on record.

Steve Shumway, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service office in Huntsville, said rain is possible Sunday and Monday, but it's too early to say if it will be enough to ease the drought.

He said north Alabama is in the midst of a moderate drought. Since January 2005, rainfall in the Shoals is more than 2 feet below normal. In Huntsville, the deficit for the same period is more than 3 feet.

"It's just dry. Every day we go without rain, the potential for large wildfires grows," said John Everitt, Colbert County manager of the Alabama Forestry Commission.

Everitt said foresters and volunteer firefighters have been busy much of the winter battling small woods and grass fires.

Tim Reed, Franklin County coordinator for the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, said the lack of rain has farmers worried. "If we don't get a good rain pretty soon, a lot of farmers are going to be hurting."

Dennis Sherer can be reached at 740-5746 or dennis.sherer@timesdaily.com.