Deer Rut Schedule

COMMON SENSE: Hope for a snowy winter; we need it

We really need a snowy winter because the groundwater situation is getting serious.

Three of my farmer friends have been hauling water to their cattle for about two months. One cattleman’s well went dry as did another’s pond, and on a third farm there is only a trickle of water flowing in what was a substantial creek.

A few miles from my house, the Hazel River (which is one of the two main tributaries of the upper Rappahannock) has only about 10 feet of current flowing between its 100-foot-wide banks.

The lack of flow has not only allowed sand bars to develop, but also allowed grass to grow on a surface usually covered by water. The roots steal even more water from the stream.

A few weeks ago we got 2 or 3 inches of rain from that tropical system, but that was spread out over a 48-hour period. While it rejuvenated the grass and the trees, there was little runoff to refill the streams.

People are also reading…

Very little — if any — of that rain made it into underground reservoirs because, as I said, thirsty grass and tree roots sucked it up as quickly as it came.

I did my fall plowing last week and in my upper garden, which slopes, I could barely get the plow point in the ground. The earth was so dry it just wanted to skid across the top.

The lower garden had somewhat more moisture on the top, but two 2 inches down it was as dry as a bone.

I’ve still only recorded about 25 inches of moisture for the year, some 15 inches below what I had at this time last fall. We only have a little over two months left to get to our annual average of 43 inches and very little moisture is predicted for the next two weeks.

We need a wet winter, preferably one with plenty of snow, which melts slowly and seeps down through the soil to underground lakes. Plants are dormant in the winter and their roots do not absorb much moisture. Also, the weather is cool so there is minimal evaporation. Winter is when we refill the wells and streams.

Most towns and cities get their drinking water from streams (serving reservoirs) and private wells provide water to homes in the country. With more and more homes (and businesses) using more and more water, lack of rain can cause big problems.

Of course, it will rain sooner or later. Nature always catches up. The trouble is that nature does not necessarily operate on a human schedule, a fact we don’t seem to understand.

Weather forecasters keep enticing snow lovers with talk of a strong El Nino (warmer waters in the central Pacific), but that phenomenon doesn’t necessarily equate to more snow or moisture. Other factors, such as jet stream flow, affect the amount of moisture we get.

Remember too that an extremely cold winter does not necessarily mean a snowy one. Extreme cold is associated with high pressure systems and drier Arctic air, which builds and prevents low pressure systems (with their moisture) from moving in.

However it happens, whether it is snow up to our waists or mud up to our knees, we need a wet winter. Groundwater is already getting low and if we have a dry winter and then a dry summer next year, we could be in real trouble.

But, as always, Mother Nature will do things her own way.

The deer rut has begun so be extra careful when you’re driving — day or night. An hour before dark the other day a buck ran across the road about two seconds ahead of my car.

Two miles later there were three deer crossing the road while the sun was still up. At night now, deer are everywhere. And not just in the country. In the past two weeks I have seen dead deer beside streets in two different towns. Should be a good hunting season.

Another reminder. Daylight saving time ends Nov. 5. That means that there will be an hour less of afternoon daylight on Election Day, Nov. 7, so plan accordingly.

I enjoy winter, but I hate those long nights. Of course, they are more palatable when I look out the window and see snow falling.

This year, we really need that snow.

Donnie Johnston’s columns generally appear in Town & County and twice per week on the Opinion page. Reach him at [email protected].

Get local news delivered to your inbox!