Last week a large swath of Oklahoma received an inch or better of rain. This means the drought's over, right?

Wrong.

The recent rains that blessed our state, while a welcome change, didn't break the grip the drought has on Oklahoma. We need to remember that the past two years have created conditions in our state that will take months of moisture to undo. Even then, much of the damage caused by this drought will take time to heal. On top of this, some long-range forecasts lean to the conclusion that like the droughts of the 1930s and 1950s, we may be looking at another year or two of dry weather, regardless of periodic showers.

While we can't control the weather, we can take steps to be prepared if the more pessimistic forecasts are correct. Homeowners and landscapers should consider conserving water, controlling erosion and reducing fertilizer runoff when caring for lawns and gardens. Agriculture producers should think before they plow — practicing good conservation to limit soil loss, nutrient and bacteria runoff in creeks and streams and taking steps to reduce overall water usage and moisture loss.