All eight of the state’s counties are experiencing drought conditions after below normal rainfall, according to a group of state officials.
Gov. Ned Lamont today approved a recommendation by the state’s Interagency Drought Working Group to declare that all eight Connecticut counties have stage two drought conditions due to precipitation across the state being below normal. This qualification identified emerging drought events that could impact agriculture, ecosystems, and water supplies.
Interagency Drought Workgroup Chair Martin Heft said Connecticut has had drier-than-normal conditions this spring and early summer, which, combined with higher-than-normal temperatures, have impacted the state’s water resources.
Because of this, residents and businesses across the state are being asked to voluntarily: reduce automatic outdoor irrigation; postpone the planting of new lawns or vegetation; minimize overall water use by fixing leaky plumbing and fixtures; and follow any additional conservation requests issued by water suppliers or towns and cities.
According to the Connecticut Drought Response and Preparedness Plan, which the state adopted in 2018, there are five stages to a drought emergency with varying degrees of urgency. The Interagency Drought Workgroup classified New London and Windham counties as experiencing stage one drought conditions on June 2.
The Interagency Drought Workgroup elected to move the entire state to stage two based on precipitation shortfalls, reduced groundwater levels, stream flows, and soil moisture impacts.
The state has experienced this level of drought five times in the past two decades — in 2002, 2007, 2010, 2016 and 2020.
Four counties reached stage 3 levels in 2020.
