Dry Docked

At this point, residents may be experiencing drought fatigue.
Symptoms include grief over dead grass, bone dry lake beds and receding rivers, and overdoses on public service announcements asking for conservation.
The prognosis: No relief in sight.
Conditions are expected to worsen between now and the rainy season that typically begins in earnest by June, officials say.
"This is a critical time of year," said James Brooks, a spokesman for the Southwest Florida Water Management District. "Residents need to be extremely conservative over the next few months."
While lake, river and groundwater levels haven't reached the historically low levels seen in 2000, they're getting there, said Granville Kinsman, hydrologic data manager for the water district known as Swiftmud.
Kinsman said he's optimistic levels won't drop that low before the summer rains come. But he's not certain. Forecasters are calling for a drier-than-normal spring.
"If we get normal summer rains on time, it should keep us from dropping to that point," he said.
The region has a rainfall deficit of 27 inches over the last 36 months, according to Swiftmud.
Hunters Lake in Spring Hill has drastically receded. Nearby Lake Theresa has disappeared.
A gauge on the Withlacoochee River showed a flow of .42 cubic feet per second, or CFS. That's not far from the .09 CFS in 2001, the lowest since records began 68 years ago. The median flow during that time has been 245 CFS.
On the other side of the county, the stream flow for the Weekiwachee River on Wednesday was 122 CFS. That figure hit 104 in 2001.
All the numbers add up to plenty of officials pleading with residents to take conservation seriously.
This is prime time for green thumbs, and one sacrifice property owners can make is cutting back or holding off altogether on new plantings this year, Brooks said.
There are seven counties in Swiftmud's 16-county area that are currently in a phase three watering restrictions, meaning local governments must issue citations for every violation. No warnings allowed.
Hernando is not there yet because it's enjoying the advantage of sitting on top of a bountiful portion of the Floridan aquifer. The county also is staying within its groundwater pumping limits set by Swiftmud.
But that water is still a finite resource, and tighter restrictions aren't beyond the realm of possibility, Swiftmud officials say.
County statistics indicate residents are generally heeding the once-a-week watering restrictions put in place 26 months ago. There were 55 first-time offenses last month, five second offense and one third offense.
The Hernando County Utilities Department this Friday will offer a seminar on the restrictions that will also include tips on how to keep grass alive in drought conditions.
The meeting at the government center in downtown Brooksville, 20 N. Main St., will also be streamed live online at the Hernando County Web site: www.co.hernando.fl.us. Viewers will also have a chance to call in their questions live at 352-540-5777.
For more information, call the utilities department at 754-4037.