Small Town News

Water has no place to go; frustrated residents, farmers wait for dry weather

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This is the time of year when local farmers normally prepare for the spring and summer planting seasons. But winter has been anything but normal this year.

Farmers can't begin their annual late-winter and early-spring tasks because their fields are inundated from snowmelt and rainfall in one of the wettest periods in recent memory.

Standing water is everywhere in the Cape Region; every ditch and low-lying area is filled. During a recent land-use forum, Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) Secretary Collin O'Mara said the price tag for flood damage in the county could reach $70 million.

There has been no break from an onslaught of rain and snow since Nov. 2 more inches of rain over the weekend only exacerbated the flooding. "Things are a little bit worse than even a month ago," said Jessica Watson, program manager of the Sussex Conservation District.

The season's generally high water table is at historic highs in Sussex County; standing water has nowhere to go. In some locations, the water table is at the surface. A water index established by the Delaware Geologic Survey was at the highest level in 57 years between September and December, said Frank Piorko, program administrator for DNREC's drainage and stormwater program.

Although rainfall for the year is only about 1 inch above average at just less than 10 inches, rainfall for 2009 was nearly 15 inches above average.

The weather pattern is unusual, Piorko said, because precipitation has not fallen all at once but over an extended period.

"It's been a perfect storm with high precipitation and snowmelt, a high water table and increased stream flow," Piorko said. He said it's the wettest period in Sussex County anyone on his staff can remember.

Farmers behind schedule

Cory Whaley, an agent with University of Delaware Cooperative Extension, said most farmers are at least two to three weeks behind schedule because of wet, muddy fields. Normally by this time, farmers are applying nitrogen to the soil in preparation for planting.

"If s been wet since last fall," he said. "Grains planted last fall have not seen much growth. They will need a good spring to maximize yields."

Whaley said spreading lime and potash is also behind schedule because trucks and sprayers can't get in the muddy fields. Spreading normally starts before March 1.

He said local farmers are used to dealing with weather extremes, but as long as vegetable crops are planted by mid-April and corn and soybeans are planted by early May, yields should be strong.

"We need a dry spell," he said. "It just depends on how much work can get done with some consecutive dry weather."

Agencies try to help

County and state officials have been inundated with calls from residents seeking assistance with the rising waters.

Sussex County is in the process of collecting information about water and flood damage to secure possible grants to help residents through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). "We are looking into the possibility of doing this," said county building official Brad Whaley.

For the most part, homeowners have been on their own to deal with water issues. Those with flood insurance could get some assistance, but most never dreamed they would need that type of insurance.

Piorko said residents are seeing water where it has never been before. "Some people have built in areas that are being tested now, and they are not passing the test," he said.

He said his agency tries to find solutions, but in many cases staff can't get on properties to survey and start the process. "The most pressing need is to find folks some solutions, and we can't get to that stage," he said.

Watson said some desperate homeowners are actually pumping water off their properties. She said district staff has helped some find places to pump the water. "But the cost is on them and if s expensive," she said.

Watson said the cost of running a pump continuously for a week could be from $2,000 to $5,000.

In many cases, she said, there is simply nowhere for the water to go.

"Warm, dry weather like we have had this week is what we really need," Watson said.





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