A “Stage 2” drought advisory has been issued for all of Connecticut as a result of the “far below normal precipitation levels and ongoing fire danger levels statewide,” according to the office of Gov. Ned Lamont.
The advisory means that the state is at “an awareness stage,” and it also notifies resident that an “emerging drought event that could potentially impact water supplies, agriculture, or natural ecosystems,” according to a Lamont spokesperson.
“It is the second of five levels under the Connecticut Drought Preparedness and Response Plan, with Stage 1 being the lowest and Stage 5 the most extreme.”
“The lack of rain over the past two months has caused exceptionally dry conditions across Connecticut, resulting in numerous wildfires and reduced groundwater levels and streamflows,” Lamont said, in a statement. “We want to raise awareness that as this lack of rain continues, there is a possibility that this emerging drought event could intensify, which is why we want to encourage everyone right now to be mindful of their water consumption and take some simple, sensible steps to stretch water supplies.”
Since Oct. 21, Connecticut has experienced about 150 brush fires, of which 74 fires are currently being monitored and 13 fires are in the mop-up stage, according to the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. Among those being monitored, 59 fires are being carefully watched for signs of reignition due to ongoing dry and windy weather.
Lamont in October declared an ongoing state of emergency as a result of the “ongoing lack of precipitation and critical fire weather conditions.”
DEEP also put in place an ongoing burn ban that prohibits the use of outdoor grills, firepits, campfires, and the kindling and use of flame outdoors at all state parks, forests, and wildlife management areas statewide.
“The decision to declare a Stage 2 drought advisory comes to the governor at the recommendation of the Connecticut Interagency Drought Workgroup, a state body consisting of representatives from several state agencies who meet as necessary to assess drought conditions and make recommendations to the governor on the state’s response,” the statement said.
The recommendation is based on,”an assessment of indicator data monitored by state and federal agencies, including precipitation, surface waters, groundwater, reservoirs, soil moisture, vegetation, and fire danger conditions.”
“We have experienced significantly drier than normal conditions this fall,” Office of Policy and Management Undersecretary Martin Heft, chairman of the Connecticut Interagency Drought Workgroup, said, in the statement. “In terms of precipitation, we have had the driest two-month period ever recorded since records began in 1905 and have seen the impacts with increased fire danger conditions. We must begin early steps now to mitigate the potential for harm should the drought be prolonged.”
Actions residents and businesses are encouraged to voluntarily take include:
- Shutting down automatic outdoor irrigation;
- Minimizing overall water use by fixing leaky plumbing and fixtures;
- Following any conservation requests issued by local water suppliers and municipalities
- Recognize impacts can be more severe at certain locations
- Residents depend on private wells, fire or irrigation ponds, and other highly localized water resources should be especially mindful of local conditions, especially in places where previous droughts have affected supplies.
The spokesperson also noted that five levels of drought advisories under the state’s drought plan are:
Stage 1: Below normal conditions
Stage 2: Incipient drought
Stage 3: Moderate drought
Stage 4: Severe drought
Stage 5: Extreme drought
Officials also said “the most recent time any drought advisories were issued in Connecticut was during the summer and fall of 2022 when six counties reached Stage 2 and two counties were elevated to Stage 3.”
The Connecticut Interagency Drought Workgroup includes representatives from the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, the Department of Public Health, the Office of Policy and Management, and the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority, with assistance from the National Weather Service and the United States Geological Survey.
Find on the state’s drought plan at portal.ct.gov/Water/Drought/Drought-Home.
