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ACT DROUGHT & WATER DASHBOARD

Alabama-Coosa-Tallapoosa (ACT) River Basin Drought & Water Dashboard

Explore timely and reliable information on past, present, and future drought conditions to increase drought early warning capacity and support decision making across the ACT Basin.

17.31%

of USGS streamgages in the ACT Basin have below-normal 28-day average streamflow

33

counties in the ACT Basin are designated in drought by the USDA

Change of
0
since last week
Change of
0
since last month
51st

driest February on record, over the past 130 years

Decrease of
0.13
inches from normal
since last month
31st

wettest year to date over the past 130 years (January-February 2024)

Increase of
1.09
since last week

Drought & Dryness Categories
Value Map Hex Color % of ACT Basin Description
D0 - Abnormally Dry #ffff00 0.0 Abnormally Dry Abnormally Dry (D0) indicates a region that is going into or coming out of drought. View typical impacts by state.
D1 – Moderate Drought #ffcc99 0.0 Moderate Drought Moderate Drought (D1) is the first of four drought categories (D1–D4), according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. View typical impacts by state.
D2 – Severe Drought #ff6600 0.0 Severe Drought Severe Drought (D2) is the second of four drought categories (D1–D4), according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. View typical impacts by state.
D3 – Extreme Drought #ff0000 0.0 Extreme Drought Extreme Drought (D3) is the third of four drought categories (D1–D4), according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. View typical impacts by state.
D4 – Exceptional Drought #660000 0.0 Exceptional Drought Exceptional Drought (D4) is the most intense drought category, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. View typical impacts by state.
Total Area in Drought (D1–D4) #ffffff 0.0 Total Area in Drought (D1–D4) Percent area of the ACT River Basin that is currently in drought (D1–D4), according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.
Percent of Normal Precipitation (%)
Range Map Hex Color Description
0% - 25% #8c510a Precipitation was only 0% to 25% of the historical average for this location, compared to the same date range from 1991–2020. 
25% - 50% #bf812d 25%–50% of Normal Precipitation was 25% to 50% of the historical average for this location, compared to the same date range from 1991–2020. 
50% - 75% #dfc27d 50%–75% of Normal Precipitation was 50% to 75% of the historical average for this location, compared to the same date range from 1991–2020. 
75% - 100% #f6e8c3 75%–100% of Normal Precipitation was 75% to 100% of the historical average for this location, compared to the same date range from 1991–2020. 
Range Map Hex Color Description
100% - 150% #c7eae5 100%–150% of Normal Precipitation was 100% to 150% of the historical average for this location, compared to the same date range from 1991–2020. 
150% - 200% #80cdc1 150%–200% of Normal Precipitation was 150% to 200% of the historical average for this location, compared to the same date range from 1991–2020. 
200% - 300% #35978f 200%–300% of Normal Precipitation was 200% to 300% of the historical average for this location, compared to the same date range from 1991–2020. 
300% - #01665e >300% of Normal Precipitation was greater than 300% of the historical average for this location, compared to the same date range from 1991–2020. 

Streamflow and Reservoir Conditions

Streamflow Conditions
Value Map Hex Color Description
Low #ff0000 Record Low Estimated streamflow is the lowest value recorded at this gauge on this day of the year. Learn more.
Much Below #b12121 Much Below Normal ( Estimated streamflow is in the 0–10th percentile of historical streamflow values recorded at this gauge on this day of the year. Learn more.
Below #ffa400 Below Normal (10th–25th Percentile) Estimated streamflow is in the 10th–25th percentile of historical streamflow values recorded at this gauge on this day of the year. Learn more.
Normal #00ff00 Normal (25th–75th Percentile) Estimated streamflow is in the 25th–75th percentile of historical streamflow values recorded at this gauge on this day of the year. Learn more.
Value Map Hex Color Description
Above #40dfd0 Above Normal (75th–90th Percentile) Estimated streamflow is in the 75th–90th percentile of historical streamflow values recorded at this gauge on this day of the year. Learn more.
Much Above #0000ff Much Above Normal (>90th Percentile) Estimated streamflow is in the 90th–100th percentile of historical streamflow values recorded at this gauge on this day of the year. Learn more.
High #000000 Record High Estimated streamflow is the highest value ever measured at this gauge on this day of the year. Learn more.
Not Ranked #ffffff Not Ranked A flow category has not been computed for this gauge, for example due to insufficient historical data or no current streamflow estimates.
Streamflow Conditions
Value Map Hex Color Description
Low #ff0000 Record Low Estimated streamflow is the lowest value recorded at this gauge on this day of the year. Learn more.
Much Below #b12121 Much Below Normal ( Estimated streamflow is in the 0–10th percentile of historical streamflow values recorded at this gauge on this day of the year. Learn more.
Below #ffa400 Below Normal (10th–25th Percentile) Estimated streamflow is in the 10th–25th percentile of historical streamflow values recorded at this gauge on this day of the year. Learn more.
Normal #00ff00 Normal (25th–75th Percentile) Estimated streamflow is in the 25th–75th percentile of historical streamflow values recorded at this gauge on this day of the year. Learn more.
Value Map Hex Color Description
Above #40dfd0 Above Normal (75th–90th Percentile) Estimated streamflow is in the 75th–90th percentile of historical streamflow values recorded at this gauge on this day of the year. Learn more.
Much Above #0000ff Much Above Normal (>90th Percentile) Estimated streamflow is in the 90th–100th percentile of historical streamflow values recorded at this gauge on this day of the year. Learn more.
High #000000 Record High Estimated streamflow is the highest value ever measured at this gauge on this day of the year. Learn more.
Not Ranked #ffffff Not Ranked A flow category has not been computed for this gauge, for example due to insufficient historical data or no current streamflow estimates.
U.S. Drought Monitor
Value Map Hex Color Description
D0 #ffff00 D0 - Abnormally Dry Abnormally Dry (D0) indicates a region that is going into or coming out of drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. View typical impacts by state.
D1 #fcd37f D1 – Moderate Drought Moderate Drought (D1) is the first of four drought categories (D1–D4), according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. View typical impacts by state.
D2 #fa0 D2 – Severe Drought Severe Drought (D2) is the second of four drought categories (D1–D4), according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. View typical impacts by state.
D3 #e60000 D3 – Extreme Drought Extreme Drought (D3) is the third of four drought categories (D1–D4), according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. View typical impacts by state.
D4 #730000 D4 – Exceptional Drought Exceptional Drought (D4) is the most intense drought category, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. View typical impacts by state.
USACE Lake Action Zones
Value Map Hex Color Description
Flood Storage #0000ff Flood Storage Storage is above Zone 1.
Zone 1 #55ff00 Zone 1 Zone 1 indicates normal operations. Releases can be made in support of seasonal navigation (when the channel has been adequately maintained), hydropower releases, water supply, and water quality releases. 
Zone 2 #ffff00 Zone 2 Zone 2 indicates that water to support seasonal navigation may be limited (ACF Basin only). Hydropower generation is supported at a reduced level. Water supply and water quality releases are met. Minimum flow targets are met. 
Zone 3 #ffaa00 Zone 3 Zone 3 indicates that water to support seasonal navigation may be significantly limited (ACF Basin only). Hydropower generation is supported at a reduced level. Water supply and water quality releases are met. Minimum flow targets are met.
Zone 4 #ff0000 Zone 4 Zone 4 indicates that navigation is not supported (ACF Basin only). Hydropower demands will be met at minimum level and may only occur for concurrent uses. Water supply and water quality releases are met. Minimum flow targets are met.
No Action Zones #000000 Project Does Not Have Action Zones
Alabama Power Company Lakes & Dams
Value Map Hex Color
Lakes #000000

Future Conditions

U.S. Drought Outlooks

Drought Is Predicted To...
Value Map Hex Color Description
Persist #9b634a Drought Persists During this time period, drought is forecast to persist.
Improve #ded2bc Drought Improves During this time period, drought is forecast to improve.
End #b2ad69 Drought Is Removed During this time period, drought removal is forecast.
Develop #ffde63 Drought Develops During this time period, drought development is forecast.
N/A #ffffff No Drought Present
Drought Is Predicted To...
Value Map Hex Color Description
Persist #9b634a Drought Persists During this time period, drought is forecast to persist.
Improve #ded2bc Drought Improves During this time period, drought is forecast to improve.
End #b2ad69 Drought Is Removed During this time period, drought removal is forecast.
Develop #ffde63 Drought Develops During this time period, drought development is forecast.
N/A #ffffff No Drought Present

Quantitative Precipitation Forecast

Predicted Inches of Precipitation
Range Map Hex Color
0 - 0.01 #ffffff
0.01 - 0.1 #7fff00
0.1 - 0.25 #00cd00
0.25 - 0.5 #008b00
0.5 - 0.75 #104e8b
0.75 - 1 #1e90ff
1 - 1.25 #00b2ee
1.25 - 1.5 #00eeee
1.5 - 1.75 #8968cd
Range Map Hex Color
1.75 - 2 #912cee
2 - 2.5 #8b008b
2.5 - 3 #8b0000
3 - 4 #cd0000
4 - 5 #ee4000
5 - 7 #ff7f00
7 - 10 #cd8500
10 - 15 #ffd700
15 - 20 #ffff00
20 - #ffaeb9
Predicted Inches of Precipitation
Range Map Hex Color
0 - 0.01 #ffffff
0.01 - 0.1 #7fff00
0.1 - 0.25 #00cd00
0.25 - 0.5 #008b00
0.5 - 0.75 #104e8b
0.75 - 1 #1e90ff
1 - 1.25 #00b2ee
1.25 - 1.5 #00eeee
1.5 - 1.75 #8968cd
Range Map Hex Color
1.75 - 2 #912cee
2 - 2.5 #8b008b
2.5 - 3 #8b0000
3 - 4 #cd0000
4 - 5 #ee4000
5 - 7 #ff7f00
7 - 10 #cd8500
10 - 15 #ffd700
15 - 20 #ffff00
20 - #ffaeb9

Historical Drought Conditions and Impacts: ACT River Basin

U.S. Drought Monitor
Value Map Hex Color Description
D0 #ffff00 D0 - Abnormally Dry Abnormally Dry (D0) indicates a region that is going into or coming out of drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. View typical impacts by state.
D1 #fcd37f D1 – Moderate Drought Moderate Drought (D1) is the first of four drought categories (D1–D4), according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. View typical impacts by state.
D2 #fa0 D2 – Severe Drought Severe Drought (D2) is the second of four drought categories (D1–D4), according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. View typical impacts by state.
D3 #e60000 D3 – Extreme Drought Extreme Drought (D3) is the third of four drought categories (D1–D4), according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. View typical impacts by state.
D4 #730000 D4 – Exceptional Drought Exceptional Drought (D4) is the most intense drought category, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. View typical impacts by state.

The U.S. Drought Monitor (2000–present) depicts the location and intensity of drought across the country. Every Thursday, authors from NOAA, USDA, and the National Drought Mitigation Center produce a new map based on their assessments of the best available data and input from local observers. The map uses five categories: Abnormally Dry (D0), showing areas that may be going into or are coming out of drought, and four levels of drought (D1–D4). Learn more.

Drought Response in the ACT River Basin

The ACT River Basin contains sixteen reservoir projects. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Mobile District operates five federally owned reservoirs, while the Alabama Power Company (APC) owns and operates the remaining eleven dams—seven on the Coosa River and four on the Tallapoosa River. 

In times of drought, the USACE and APC work together to enact conservation measures across the basin’s reservoirs, following the Alabama Drought Response Operation Plan (ADROP). This plan defines three “drought intensity levels” for the basin, which activate certain drought management actions.

Drought Level 1 occurs when one of the below conditions are met:

  1. Low basin inflow
  2. Low state line flow
  3. Low composite conservation storage in APC reservoirs.

Drought Levels 2 and 3—which indicate more severe drought conditions and bring additional drought management actions—occur when two or three of the above conditions are met, respectively.

Bridge over the Coosa River