Carvins Cove is at one of its lowest levels in the past four decades. Here’s why this is different from previous droughts.

Carvins Cove is at one of its lowest levels in the past four decades. Here’s why this is different from previous droughts.

First of a four-part series on the Roanoke Valley’s water supply. We’re in a drought. The official U.S. Drought Monitor lists much of Virginia as being in the “severe drought” category. The governor has urged Virginians to conserve water. Anyone who’s been to Carvins Cove, the Roanoke Valley’s main reservoir, can see the receding water line. That naturally raises the question: How bad is this? That’s more than just a weather question; it’s also …