Name: New Hampshire drought update: Severe drought declared for 20% of state
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New Hampshire drought update: Severe drought declared for 20% of state

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AdvertisementAffected areas include Seacoast, Merrimack CountySevere drought declared for more than 20% of New HampshireAffected areas include Seacoast, Merrimack County2016. BUT WITHOUT SOME RAIN SOON, WE ARE HEADING IN THAT DIRECTION. THE LATEST DROUGHT MONITOR MAP TELLS THE STORY. MORE THAN 20% OF THE STATE IS NOW IN A SEVERE DROUGHT. &gt;&gt; IT MEANS THAT GROUND WATER LEVELS, RIVERS AND LAKES HAVE ALL DROPPED. SOIL MOISTURE LEVELS HAVE ALL DROPPED TO SUCH A LEVEL THAT WE’RE NOW IN A SEVERE CONDITION. RAY: AT LAST CHECK THERE WERE 135 WATER SYSTEMS IN THE STATE THAT HAD INSTITUTED EITHER VOLUNTARY OR MANDATORY RESTRICTIONS. &gt;&gt; WE RECOMMEND THAT THEY LOOK AT MANDATORY RESTRICTIONS AS OPPOSED TO VOLUNTARY, VOLUNTARY RESTRICTIONS JUST DO NOT WORK IT HAS BEEN OUR EXPERIENCE SINCE 2016. RAY: THE BIGGEST CONCERN RIGHT NOW ACCORDING TO THE STATE IS DROPPING GROUND WATER LEVELS. TWO WELLS IN WARREN, SERVING ABOUT 200 PEOPLE, HAVE ALREADY GONE DRY. &gt;&gt; THESE ARE SHALLOW WELLS AND THE GROUND WATER LEVEL AND THE PUMPING OF THE WATER OUT HAS NOW CAUSED THE WATER TO NO LONGER BE THERE. RAY: AND LARGER SYSTEMS ARE NOT IMMUNE. IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE LEBANON HAS ENOUGH WATER, THE STATE IS MONITORING THE LEVELS ON LAKE MASCOMA. &gt;&gt; SO WE HAVE TO VERY CAREFULLY BALANCE HOW MUCH WATER WE’RE LETTING GO DOWN THE RIVER SO WE’LL HAVE ENOUGH WATER TO COVER THEIR INTAKES. RAY: AND FURTHER SOUTH, LOW LEVELS IN THE MERRIMACK ARE FORCING WATER DISTRICTS TO ADJUST. &gt;&gt; PENNICHUCK THEY HAVE PUMP OUT ON THE MERRIMACK RIVER RIGHT NOW THAT’S REDUCING THEIR ABILITY TO PULL FROM THE MERRIMACK RIVER SO THEIR HAVING TO GO TO ALTERNATIVE OPERATIONS ALSO. RAY: THE STATE HOPES THAT BY SOUNDING THE WARNING NOW, IT WILL SPUR PEOPLE TO ACT. &gt;&gt; THEY CAN LOOK AT THE SITUATION AND GO HEY I NEED TO DO THE RIGHT THING SO AND BEGIN TO PROTECT WATER FOR ALL OF US IN ORDER TO AVOID MORE SERIOUS PROBLEMS DOWN THE LINE. RAY: IN ORDER TO THE STATE SAYS GET OUT OF THE DROUGHT THE STATE SAYS THAT IN ORDER TO TURN , THINGS AROUND WHAT WE NEED IS A GOOD SOAKING FROM A TRAdvertisementSevere drought declared for more than 20% of New HampshireAffected areas include Seacoast, Merrimack CountyDrought conditions have worsened in New Hampshire, according to the latest report released Thursday morning.&gt;&gt; Download the free WMUR appMore than one-fifth of the state is now experiencing a severe drought. Affected areas stretch from the Seacoast to central New Hampshire, include most of Rockingham and Merrimack counties plus a large portion of Strafford County. "It means that groundwater levels, rivers and lakes have all dropped," said Tom O'Donovan, director of the water division of the state Department of Environmental Services. "Soil moisture levels have all dropped to such a level that we're now in a severe condition."&gt;&gt; Drought monitor report for New HampshireMore than 49% of New Hampshire is said to be in a moderate stage of drought, with affected areas stretching from Nashua to western New Hampshire, the Lakes Region and parts of the North Country. The rest of the state, about 30% of the land area, is experiencing abnormally dry conditions. Areas in this first stage of drought include the southern Monadnock Region, the White Mountains and eastern parts of the North Country. At last check, there were 135 water systems in the state that had instituted either voluntary or mandatory restrictions."We recommend that they look at mandatory restrictions, as opposed to voluntary," O'Donovan said. "Voluntary restrictions just do not work, it has been our experience since 2016."There are parts of New Hampshire that have only seen 30% of the average amount of rainfall since June 1. The biggest concern, according to the state, is falling groundwater levels. Two wells in Warren that serve about 200 people have already gone dry."These are shallow wells, and the groundwater level and the pumping of the water out has now caused the water to no longer be there," O'Donovan said. Larger systems aren't immune. In order to make sure Lebanon has enough water, the state is monitoring the levels of Lake Mascoma."So we have to very carefully balance how much water we're letting go down the river so we'll have enough water to cover their intakes," O'Donovan said.Further south, low levels in the Merrimack River are forcing water districts to adjust."Pennichuck, they have pump out on the Merrimack River right now," O'Donovan said. "That's reducing their ability to pull from the Merrimack River, so they're having to go to alternative operations, also." The state needs several inches of rainfall from multiple systems over a stretch of time to get conditions close to normal.The forecast over the next several days only calls for scattered showers or thundershowers, which indicates the drought will likely be a longer-term problem moving forward.Drought conditions have worsened in New Hampshire, according to the latest report released Thursday morning.&gt;&gt;AdvertisementMore than one-fifth of the state is now experiencing a severe drought. Affected areas stretch from the Seacoast to central New Hampshire, include most of Rockingham and Merrimack counties plus a large portion of Strafford County. "It means that groundwater levels, rivers and lakes have all dropped," said Tom O'Donovan, director of the water division of the state Department of Environmental Services. "Soil moisture levels have all dropped to such a level that we're now in a severe condition."&gt;&gt; More than 49% of New Hampshire is said to be in a moderate stage of drought, with affected areas stretching from Nashua to western New Hampshire, the Lakes Region and parts of the North Country. The rest of the state, about 30% of the land area, is experiencing abnormally dry conditions. Areas in this first stage of drought include the southern Monadnock Region, the White Mountains and eastern parts of the North Country. At last check, there were 135 water systems in the state that had instituted either voluntary or mandatory restrictions."We recommend that they look at mandatory restrictions, as opposed to voluntary," O'Donovan said. "Voluntary restrictions just do not work, it has been our experience since 2016."There are parts of New Hampshire that have only seen 30% of the average amount of rainfall since June 1. The biggest concern, according to the state, is falling groundwater levels. Two wells in Warren that serve about 200 people have already gone dry."These are shallow wells, and the groundwater level and the pumping of the water out has now caused the water to no longer be there," O'Donovan said. Larger systems aren't immune. In order to make sure Lebanon has enough water, the state is monitoring the levels of Lake Mascoma."So we have to very carefully balance how much water we're letting go down the river so we'll have enough water to cover their intakes," O'Donovan said.Further south, low levels in the Merrimack River are forcing water districts to adjust."Pennichuck, they have pump out on the Merrimack River right now," O'Donovan said. "That's reducing their ability to pull from the Merrimack River, so they're having to go to alternative operations, also."The state needs several inches of rainfall from multiple systems over a stretch of time to get conditions close to normal.The forecast over the next several days only calls for scattered showers or thundershowers, which indicates the drought will likely be a longer-term problem moving forward.This content is imported from Twitter.You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.The latest Drought Monitor update- the drought has worsened. 20% of NH is now under severe drought while our moderate drought coverage has increased as well. There are parts of NH that have only seen 30% of our normal rainfall since June 1st. — Kevin Skarupa (@KevSkarupaWMUR)Loading more articles...

AdvertisementAffected areas include Seacoast, Merrimack CountySevere drought declared for more than 20% of New HampshireAffected areas include Seacoast, Merrimack County2016. BUT WITHOUT SOME RAIN SOON, WE ARE HEADING IN THAT DIRECTION. THE LATEST DROUGHT MONITOR MAP TELLS THE STORY. MORE THAN 20% OF THE STATE IS NOW IN A SEVERE DROUGHT. &gt;&gt; IT MEANS THAT GROUND WATER LEVELS, RIVERS AND LAKES HAVE ALL DROPPED. SOIL MOISTURE LEVELS HAVE ALL DROPPED TO SUCH A LEVEL THAT WE’RE NOW IN A SEVERE CONDITION. RAY: AT LAST CHECK THERE WERE 135 WATER SYSTEMS IN THE STATE THAT HAD INSTITUTED...

New Hampshire drought update: Severe drought declared for 20% of state

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