In the Grip of a Drought

It started last year...and the drought continues in the Tennessee in 2007.

TVA is calling it the driest three-month period in 117 years for northeast Tennessee.

It's beginning to look lush outside in some areas, the trees are blooming, and the grass already needs cutting.

But don't be decieved. Just below the surface.. We've got a drought underway.

WDEF News 12's Bill Mitchell has the story.

What's going on? This is usually one of the wettest periods of the year...but the Chattanooga area is about 8 inches below normal for December, January and February. Is it el Nino again?

PATRICK CORE, CHIEF METEOROLOGIST "well, not necessarily the case..we may just in a dry cycle...and those cycles run 6 to 9 months ...Not even dependant on el nino or la nina. "

A TVA spokesman says the drought is affecting a seven state region...and especially the watershed of the Tennessee river. How does that impact the generation of electricity?

RANDY KERR, TVA MANAGER OF RIVER FORECASTS " if we're not there we just have to get other ways..running extra generation..buy it...it's certainly cheaper".

Randy Kerr says TVA only generates about 10% of its power from the hydro dams. He customers probably likely won't feel any effect from the lack of rainfall. But there is one area where the rainfall shortage is being keenly felt...on the farm.

BRANT CROWDER, MCDONALD FARMS 'the yield is what will really suffer..instead of having a 60 bushel or 70 bushel wheat..you may have 30 or 35..about half..corn, if you go through the summer like we're doing right now...you're looking at probably 100 bushels instead of 200."

Crowder says that may affect farm prices..most of McDonald Farms produce is sold locally.

TVA's Randy Kerr says that although water levels may be lower in area lakes and waterways this season....the shortage will not affect the scheduled Ocoee rafting and recreation. He says that is already programmed in for the year.

What's in the immediate future for this area?

PATRICKCORE "eventually the pattern will change..now for the last two or three years we've been pretty dry ..So eventually that pattern is going to change."