Residents in New York's Great Lakes region are being put on alert as Governor Kathy Hochul and the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) upgrade 10 more counties from drought watch to drought warning status. With the persistent drought conditions and despite recent rains, New York State is calling upon its citizens to voluntarily conserve water. Hochul said, "It’s important that we keep taking proactive steps to keep communities and farmers safe. Once again, we urge everyone in the state to do what they can to conserve water while this dry weather continues," as reported by the Governor's Office.
The ban, originally enacted earlier this month, prohibits most types of open fires and is aimed to mitigate increased fire risks. The DEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton urged residents "to do their part to conserve water while we face these drier than normal conditions," acknowledging that even small conservation efforts can significantly impact water resources, the Governor's Office stated.
Currently, New York City and Westchester County remain excluded from the drought watch or warning, which extends to include Allegany, Cattaraugus, northern Cayuga, Chautauqua, Chemung, Clinton, Erie, Essex, Franklin, Genesee, Hamilton, Jefferson, northern Herkimer, Lewis, Monroe, Niagara, Orleans, Oswego, Steuben, St. Lawrence, Warren, and Wayne counties. The DEC, together with the U.S. Geological Survey, continues to monitor hydrologic conditions across the state to evaluate drought impacts and preparedness effectively.
As part of drought preparedness, various sectors including water supply, agriculture, ecosystems, navigation and transportation, energy and manufacturing, are closely being watched. The State's Drought Management Task Force has been active in monitoring conditions and communicating with affected communities, with a particular focus on mitigating drought impacts. "The small amount of rain we received recently is not enough to overcome larger water deficits in many areas," Commissioner Lefton underscored the urgency of the situation in the official communication, as per the Governor's Office.
Despite recent precipitation, observed precipitation over the last 90 days is recorded to still be below normal, leaving stream flows and groundwater levels in a state of decline. The forecast for significant rainfall remains slim, and with the statewide burn ban extending through October 15, fires are only allowed in controlled conditions to minimize risks. For more detailed information on water conservation and drought, New Yorkers can refer to the DEC's Water Use & Conservation webpage or visit the Governor's Office website for the full announcement and resources.
