Worsening Drought in Deep South Seen as Spurring Legal Friction

The West’s drought is expected to expand through the Deep South all the way to Georgia over the winter, and legal experts are watching for new and longstanding water wars to flare up in a region known for swamps, hurricanes, and wet weather.

Drought conditions are forecast to persist or develop through the end of the year between the already-dry Mississippi River to the Savannah River, according to the National Integrated Drought Information System.

Severe or extreme drought conditions have stricken Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Texas intermittently for most of 2022. The Mississippi River—running about 14 feet below ...