Northern Wisconsin in deep drought

Lakes in northern Wisconsin are shriveling.

Wetlands are no longer wet. Trout stream tributaries are drying up. Flowages aren’t flowing like they used to. Oak trees are producing fewer acorns.

An eight-year drought is affecting everything from boaters and anglers to walleyes and blackberries, the Department of Natural Resources announced Tuesday.

The Rainbow Flowage in Oneida County has dropped 13 feet while Deep Lake in Washburn County isn’t so deep anymore – it’s down 15 feet. Most stream levels are down to only about one-third of their normal flow.

There’s not much relief in sight considering the summer outlook from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Climate Prediction Center is forecasting drought conditions in the North Woods to persist. And even if Wisconsin is deluged with rain for weeks, it will take a long time to recover, said Ed Hopkins, assistant state climatologist.

Source: Northern Wisconsin in deep drought – JSOnline

Date: 25 May 2010