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Bristol and Plymouth counties are experiencing “critical” drought conditions amid an unprecedented statewide dry spell this fall. The South Coast has been feeling its impacts, though local farmers and public water suppliers say they do not yet see any cause for alarm.
Massachusetts officials upgraded the drought designation for Southeastern Massachusetts to level 3, or critical, last Tuesday. Low levels of rainfall and stream flow led to the decision to reclassify the regional drought.
State officials initially declared that the area was experiencing level 2 “significant” drought conditions on Nov. 7. The Southeast region has joined the state’s Northeast, Central, Connecticut River Valley, and Western regions in being under critical drought conditions. The Cape and Islands remain under normal conditions.
From mid-October to mid-November, most of Massachusetts received less than an inch of rain, which is roughly 3 to 4.5 inches of rain below normal. Since August, when drought conditions began, all regions of the state except the Cape and the Islands have seen an 8- to 11-inch rainfall deficit. (This past week’s rain hasn’t been enough to make up for the trend.)
Massachusetts went through similar periods of low rainfall in 2013 and 2001, said Bryce Williams, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service’s Boston office. Though the last time it went through one close to this extreme was back in 1946, according to NWS data from the Boston area.
“It’s not unheard of, but it’s quite unusual,” he said.
The Southeast region took a little longer than others to enter critical drought conditions, said Vandana Rao, the water policy director for Massachusetts’ Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. However, it is now experiencing rainfall and stream flow measurements in line with other drought-stricken parts of Massachusetts.
The current drought has resulted in a significant fall wildfire season, agricultural losses, and stressed water supplies across the state. Massachusetts officials are saying residents should stop nonessential water use, and ensure firefighters and public water suppliers will have what they need amid these difficult conditions.
“We’re asking people to now be aware that every drop, every gallon of water that you save cumulatively helps your towns,” Rao said.
The South Coast is no exception to these regional trends.
The area experienced upwards of 15 small wildfires between Oct. 1 and Nov. 22, according to data from the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation. Water levels are down in local wells and reservoirs. Yields for fall crops are suffering across some local farms.
South Coast farmers and public works officials are concerned about the drought, though they also say they are fortunate it did not happen during the summer. The growing season is largely over, and residential water use peaks in the warm months, so the impacts have not been severe. They add that some coastal weather patterns have alleviated local drought conditions.
The U.S. Drought Monitor shows southern Bristol County is experiencing a “moderate” drought and southern Plymouth County is experiencing “abnormally dry conditions” as of Nov. 19. No wildfires are actively burning on the South Coast as of Nov. 22, according to DCR.
Local farmers and public works officials are concerned about the drought continuing. Though forecasts show some rain may be on the way, and they say residents should not panic. There are temporary bans on outdoor burning across many South Coast communities. Area leaders say that residents should still work to conserve water.
“We’re really closer to the Cape and the Islands,” said Mattapoisett River Valley Water District Commission Vice Chair Henri Renauld. “I do know a little north of us, things are a little bit scary, but we are stable right now.”
South Coast drinking water systems face drought
Public water systems along the South Coast report that they are not being significantly affected by the lack of rain at this time.
Dartmouth has not yet experienced any impact to its public water system or infrastructure due to the drought conditions, said the town’s public works department director Tim Barber in a mid-November statement to The Light. Dartmouth taps wells near the Paskamansett River for its drinking water. Town officials have not announced local water use restrictions at this time, though Barber recommends residents “be mindful of their water use.”
A City of New Bedford spokesperson said the Assawompset Pond Complex, the public drinking water supply for New Bedford and Acushnet, “shows signs of drought but remains healthy.” Most nonessential outdoor water use — like for sprinklers — is currently banned in New Bedford amid the drought.
The towns of Fairhaven, Mattapoisett, Marion and Rochester tap wells in the Mattapoisett River Valley aquifer for their drinking water. Renauld said the Mattapoisett River is still flowing despite the drought, and that recent and forecasted rain should allow groundwater to recharge.
Renauld, who also serves as the superintendent of Mattapoisett’s water and sewer department, said the town’s well levels are running lower than normal. Yet water demand is also lower, as summertime agricultural and residential use has wound down for the year. Mattapoisett is not implementing local water use restrictions at this time.
Andy Cunningham, superintendent of the Wareham Water Department, is also not very worried about the ongoing drought. He says his utility — which serves most of Wareham — taps groundwater from the massive Plymouth-Carver Aquifer. That aquifer has been impacted even less by the drought than other freshwater resources in the region.
Cunningham says he is telling residents to stop nonessential outdoor water use, to comply with a state directive.
There have been no reports of private wells running dry in Westport or Dartmouth so far due to drought conditions, officials in those towns say. Rochester has reported that one residential well has run dry thus far.
Drought affects South Coast agriculture
Local agricultural producers say the drought is worrisome for their operations. Though the late arrival of the weather pattern — along with a wet spring and summer — has protected them from a potential crisis this year.
Paul Edwards, owner of Pinecrest Tree Farm in Westport, said his Christmas trees grew less than he would’ve liked this year because of the drought — particularly his younger fir trees. The lack of rainfall also meant more manual watering, he added, which involved a lot of labor. Edwards added that while the drought should not impact revenue this year, it may affect future years.
The dry spell hasn’t significantly affected operations or revenue at Jordan Farm in Dartmouth, Andy Burnes’ grass-fed beef business. Burnes has enough hay to get the cattle through the winter, and his animals are regularly going to harvest. Yet it did mess up his fall rotational grazing plans, he said.
Steve Ward, a cranberry grower in Carver, said that the drought affected the local groundwater table and made flooding the fields for harvest difficult this fall. The drought also meant that the berries didn’t size up during the late summer and fall.
Ward was expecting a bumper crop, but ended up with about 25% less than expected yields. It was still better than last year’s crop, he said. Ward added that the drought also impacted the buds on his vines for next season, and may also hurt next season’s cranberry yields.
Ben Wolbach, the owner of Skinny Dip Farm in Westport, said he is seeing smaller heads of broccoli, brussels sprouts and cabbages as a result of the drought. Yields are down by roughly a third.
Wolbach said his bigger concern over the drought is the inability to establish a late season cover crop, which could hurt future soil health.
Eyes on the winter
Local farmers and water suppliers say they’re concerned that the ongoing dry spell may continue into next year.
Low groundwater and rainfall may impact next year’s fields and hay pastures, Burnes of Jordan Farm said, especially if the winter does not bring consistent rain, or if a hard freeze does not enable ample groundwater recharge.
If that happens, he may have to sell animals to commodity feed lots at a discount.
Renauld added that if the drought continues through the winter, Mattapoisett leadership may have to consider local water use restrictions going into the spring.
Some rainfall in Southeastern Massachusetts this past week finally broke a long dry period. More wet weather is expected around Thanksgiving, which should further alleviate drought impacts across the region.
But Rao of Massachusetts EEA said that “with this kind of steep rainfall deficit…we need multiple months of sustained rain.”
Email environmental reporter Adam Goldstein at agoldstein@newbedfordlight.org.
Amazing that all the solar farms and now the Vineyard Wind offshore project that has destroyed the ocean view along Dartmouth and Westport have not helped balance the climate. I guess we need more wind and solar. How can we get Maura Healey to put GE Renewables and Vestas wind turbines all along Truro Beach and surround P-Town with those microplastics spewing turbine blades so we can have environmental justice and more predictable weather? I’d love to see it.
Mayor Mitchell needs to understand that all the development he allows in the city reduces the future water supply for current residents and businesses. Does he really want to go there? Who are his expert sources? We’d like to know!