Lack of Rain in the Great Smoky Mountains

This past summer has had very little rain in East Tennessee. A few weeks ago I went into the park and we saw rocks in the New River with grass growing on them that normally would be underwater.

Some of the leaves have started turning brown and just falling off the trees. This could hurt the Fall season in the area. And when we went to Cades Cove most of the little streams that you cross over were dried up. The Deer were all in the high bush instead of out in the open . Hopefully we will have rain soon.

Comments: 8

Peter Wimsey Sep 8, 2007, 12:23am EDT

Great essay, Rick.

The area looks very stressed.

I made a trip to Nashville this summer, and found record heat in middle Tennessee as well.

I think Kate C. lives in east Tennessee.

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Heather W. Sep 8, 2007, 12:23am EDT

It rained here for all of 10 minutes today :\

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Jennifer F. Sep 8, 2007, 2:07am EDT

I hope so too, Rick. We've been in a year-long draught out here in Southern California and it sure isn't pretty.

My family is originally from Sevierville: my mom spent all her summers there and has so many stories about the Great Smoky Mountains. I hope to get there soon too.

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Dianne G. Sep 10, 2007, 6:17am EDT

Hey Rick and Kate.The pond near my house (Blount Co) is so low that I don't think it can even support the frogs anymore. It's a mud puddle. I wonder how the springs are doing in the mountains. Sometimes the park will put out warnings if the water sources near hiking shelters go dry.

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Frightening Icon, Official Varmint of The State of Franklin Sep 10, 2007, 7:33am EDT

I live in East Tennessee, Peter. This area is usually quite moist and verdant. The drought has been so bad that cracks have opened up in the ground here!

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Charlotte Babb Maven-Fairy Godmother Sep 11, 2007, 2:57pm EDT

It's been very dry here in Spartanburg SC as well. Time to do some weatherworking.

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Kathy F. Sep 16, 2007, 6:23pm EDT

That's what we looked like last year at this time up here in North Texas. This year we'ver had more rain than we can handle. I really hope it improves for ya'll soon. It would be a shame NOT to have the fall colors in the Smokies this year. I'll pray for rain for that area.

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Lack of Rain in the Great Smoky Mountains

Comments: 8

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