Georgia officials are urging local water systems and the public to curb water usage as nearly all of the state experiences one of the worst droughts in decades.

Why it matters: Spring is an unusual time for Georgia to experience droughts, which tend to take place during late summer.

• The measures could fend off stringent restrictions later, including bans on outdoor watering or nonessential uses like car washes or fountains.

Driving the news: The Georgia Environmental Protection Division this week directed public water systems to educate the public about conservation and water usage after declaring a Level 1 drought.

In the weeds: Officials gauge rainfall, soil moisture, and reservoir and groundwater levels, among other indicators, to make a drought level declaration.

Reality check: Recent showers did little to help Georgia climb out of its rainfall deficit. The National Weather Service's Atlanta office said we're seeing "the largest drought footprint in the state in almost twenty years."

Threat level: Drought conditions are helping to fuel wildfires in south Georgia that have destroyed more than 120 homes and burned tens of thousands of acres, Axios' Alex Fitzpatrick reports.

What they're saying: "I want people, our fellow Georgians, and people around the country, to understand that a little bit of rain is going to help us, but it's not going to get us out of this situation," Gov. Brian Kemp said during a Tuesday wildfire briefing.

• "And we're going to be dealing with this for quite a while."

What you can do: Watering lawns and landscaping usually consumes the bulk of a household's water, so turn on the sprinklers outside of the peak heat hours and for shorter periods of time.

• Inside, fix your leaky faucets, turn off the water when brushing your teeth, and wait until the dishwasher and clothes washer are full before running them.

Fun fact: Georgia law prohibits watering lawns and landscaping between 10am and 4pm, drought or no drought, all year round.

What we're watching: If conditions worsen, officials could declare a Level 2 drought. The designation allows officials to further limit when people can water lawns and to temporarily ban nonessential uses.

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Atlanta leaders will look into what could have been done differently during 404 Day festivities after a teenager was fatally shot at Piedmont Park.

Driving the news: The City Council's Public Safety/Legal Administration Committee approved a resolution for an "emergency, cross-departmental study" and to establish an advisory committee made up of local stakeholders.

• The study will review the event permitting process, public safety response, traffic management and impacts to residents, neighborhoods and infrastructure.

Zoom in: The 404 Day Advisory Committee will include mayor-appointed members, the council president, public safety agencies and affected neighborhood groups — and will recommend best practices.

Catch up quick: Tianah Robinson, 16, was killed and a 15-year-old girl was wounded in a shooting reported around 9pm Saturday, April 4 at Piedmont Park.

• Police have not made an arrest in the shooting, and a $15,000 reward has been offered for information leading to the arrest of those responsible.

Friction point: After the shooting, residents on social media raised concerns that the city was not prepared for the crowds and the streets around the park were gridlocked with motorists, Capital B Atlanta reports.

• The Midtown Neighbors Association said in a statement its group, along with NPU-E, voted to deny the 404 Day event application at the park.
• The organization also said it's lobbied for changes to the permitting process that "balance events and current community needs."
• However, Bem Joiner, founder of Atlanta Influences Everything and part of the 404 Collective, told Capital B that his fellow co-organizers were being unjustly targeted. He said the fatal shooting followed an event they had no role in planning.
• The Piedmont Park event, Joiner told Capital B, was organized by 808Fest and had no ties to the 404 Collective.

What's next: The resolution has to be adopted by the full City Council, which could be done as early as its May 4 meeting. Once approved, a final report will be drafted within 180 days.

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The Hawks lost 126-97 to the New York Knicks in Game 5 of the NBA playoff series.

• The Knicks lead the series 3-2. The next game is on Thursday night at State Farm Arena.

👩‍🍼 A woman on a Delta flight from Atlanta to Portland gave birth to a healthy baby girl just before the flight landed last Friday. (AP)

The Georgia Environmental Protection Division did not issue fish advisories or warnings to not consume tap water, even after concerns about the dangers of PFAS were mounting, an investigation by AJC, AP and PBS' Frontline found. (AJC)

🗳️ More than 30,000 people voted early on Monday, nearly 30% higher than the first day of early voting for the general primary election in 2022. (WSB)