River Levels In North Carolina At Record Lows In May, USGS Reports

Riverflows were at or near record lows in North Carolina, according to measurements taken by the U.S. Geological Survey. The USGS has monitored many of these areas for more than 100 years, including the French Broad River at Asheville, where stream flows "were at or below the streamflow recorded on the same date in 2002, during the most recent severe drought."

"Normally the lowest streamflows of the year occur in late summer, when water use demands are highest, and in the fall. If below average rainfall continues through the summer and fall, new record low flows are likely to occur in many of North Carolina's rivers."