New York State Drought Watch Now in Effect in 50 Counties

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation announced a drought watch is being expanded by 30 counties, bringing the total to 50 counties under a watch across the state.

Governor Kathy Hochul said the action was taken after consulting with the State Drought Management Task Force and federal agencies for the Catskills, Susquehanna, Mohawk/Upper Hudson, Finger Lakes and Southern Tier drought regions.

The state New is encouraging residents in affected counties, particularly those dependent on private groundwater wells, to conserve water whenever possible during the coming weeks.

The counties added to the drought watch are Albany, Allegany, Cattaraugus, Columbia, Cayuga, Chemung, Delaware, Dutchess, Fulton, Greene, lower Herkimer, Livingston, Montgomery, Oneida, Onondaga, Ontario, Orange, Putnam, Rensselaer, Rockland, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, Schuyler, Seneca, Steuben, Sullivan, Tompkins, Ulster, Washington, Wyoming, and Yates.

“The dry conditions experienced by many regions throughout the summer are continuing into September,” Hochul said. “New York State experts are closely monitoring data and conditions on the ground to safeguard our water supplies and recommend appropriate action, which now includes taking simple steps everyone can do to help conserve water.”

A watch is the first of four levels of state drought advisories, which are watch, warning, emergency, and disaster. No mandatory restrictions are in place under a drought watch. The drought watch is triggered by the State Drought Index, which reflects precipitation levels, reservoir/lake levels, and stream flow and groundwater levels in the nine drought regions of the state.

While there have only been a few public water-supply challenges reported due to the dry conditions, officials said below-normal precipitation during the last several months, low stream flows, and low groundwater levels prompted the action to ensure adequate notice to public water supplies.

Local public water suppliers are being urged to promote voluntary conservation and take appropriate actions to manage risk.

“With the expansion to 50 counties now under a drought watch, we’re strongly encouraging everyone to do what they can to conserve water at this time,” said Environmental Conservation Commissioner Amanda Lefton.

Topics New York