Raleigh eases water restrictions after lake levels improve from recent rainfalls

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- Recent rainfall and additional rain forecast this week have helped improve water supplies in the Triangle, prompting Raleigh to ease water restrictions while Durham keeps tighter conservation measures in place.

Falls Lake has risen to 84% capacity, and Raleigh announced it will scale back its Stage 1 water restrictions. The change takes effect Monday. At her garden in Raleigh's Oakwood neighborhood, Susan Phillips said some of her drought-tolerant plants have fared better than others during the dry conditions.

"We've got a cactus, we've got agave, we've got some yucca," Phillips said. She said even plants that typically withstand dry weather struggled during the drought. "These milkweed really do well in some drought. But this year got a little too far," Phillips said.

Other plants showed visible signs of stress from the lack of rain.

"The leaves that are there are pretty wilted. Some of the branches look bare that's not due to temperature and agricultural zone. That's just purely due to water. So it's a good learning experience. Right? Right. We learn," she said.

Under Raleigh's restrictions, residents could water only on certain days. Phillips said she adjusted her routine accordingly.

"So we have been we know what we know when we're allowed to water. And we also know that we're allowed to hand water. So on a few days we've been out here hand watering on the trees and the shrubs that we were most concerned about, not for a long time, but just like if they were really losing a lot of leaves, we would do some," she said.

While conditions have improved in Raleigh, Durham remains under Stage 2 water restrictions. "As of right now our boats that appears are sitting on grass and our lakes are greenways," a speaker in the report said.

Durham Mayor Leonardo Williams said the city is maintaining its current restrictions despite recent rainfall.

"We we rather be safe than sorry. So once it happens, do not change overnight. I was I was really surprised that so many people follow our protocols in the initial request by reducing this 4%. But we're going to have to continue to continue our conservation practices while also just hoping to get more rain and more water that we can put into our reserves," Williams said.

Williams said he expects to receive a full report on drought conditions Monday but does not anticipate any immediate changes to Durham's restrictions.

Raleigh officials said the city will move off its Stage 1 restrictions on Monday, while Durham will remain in Stage 2 as officials continue monitoring water levels and rainfall.

Download the ABC11 App for breaking news and weather alerts