Former Governor Easley’s Golf Club Pumped Water During Drought

    RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - Even as then-Gov. Mike Easley was calling the 2002 drought a major disaster, documents show the exclusive private golf club where he belonged pumped 6 million gallons of water meant for Jordan Lake to keep its greens alive.
    The News & Observer of Raleigh reported Sunday that documents from Chatham County, state and federal governments show the Old Chatham Golf Club was allowed to pump the water from a creek leading to Jordan Lake for two weeks beginning July 18, 2002.
    Records also show, however, that itt rained in that same period, and the lake level barely dropped.
    Club directors had voted in 2001 to waive the governor’s monthly membership dues.
    Easley did not respond to The News & Observer’s requests for an interview.