CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Charlotte has picked up some much-needed rain recently, but the region is still dealing with a drought that won’t disappear overnight. Charlotte Water says the Catawba River Basin remains in a Stage 2 drought because the watershed is still recovering from a long stretch of below-normal rainfall and reduced streamflow. The recent rain has helped, but it hasn’t erased the deficit that has built up over many months. A soaking rain can quickly improve things at the surface, but the region’s water supply depends on what happens over a much longer period of time. Rivers and streams need sustained rainfall, and the watershed needs time to recover. Charlotte Water keeps an eye on three major factors when evaluating drought conditions: lake levels, long-term streamflow and the U.S. Drought Monitor. Right now, streamflow is still signaling that the drought has not fully eased. Charlotte Water specifically looks at the six-month average, which helps officials determine the longer-term health of the watershed rather than simply focusing on how much rain has fallen in the last few days or weeks. There is some encouraging news. Water conservation efforts across the Charlotte area are working. Charlotte Water says customers are meeting the community’s water-use reduction goals, which remains especially important while drought conditions continue. For now, Stage 2 restrictions remain in place. The expectation is that it will take more consistent rainfall and not just a few wet stretches to bring the watershed back to healthier levels. Charlotte Water will continue monitoring the situation and will announce any changes to the drought status as conditions improve. So while the recent rain is certainly a step in the right direction, Charlotte isn’t completely out of the drought woods just yet. ...read more read less