Name: New Hampshire drought update shows expansion of severe drought area
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New Hampshire drought update shows expansion of severe drought area

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AdvertisementSome towns impose water restrictionsArea experiencing severe drought in NH jumps from 28% to 72% of stateSome towns impose water restrictionsHide TranscriptShow TranscriptS ANDY HERSHBERGER PORTS, PEOPLE ARE BEING ASKED TO CONSERVE AS MUCH WATER AS POSSIBLE. ANDY IT’S EXTREMELY DRY IN : WINDHAM. SO DRY IN FACT THAT ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO THEY WENT TO A LEVEL TWO WATER RESTRICTION. THAT MEANS LAWNS ARE ONLY WATERED TWICE A WEEK ON SPECIFIC DAYS AND ONLY OVERNIGHT. WE’VE HAD 4 WARNINGS ISSUED BY &gt;&gt; OUR POLICE FOR VIOLATING THE ORDINANCE. WE’VE HAD ABOUT A DOZEN COMPLAINTS FILED BY RESIDENTS ON OTHER RESIDENTS BECAUSE THEY SEE THEM WATERIN BUT IT’S MOST IMPORTANT THE RESIDENTS FOLLOW WHAT THE GUIDANCE ARE BECAUSE WE’RE TRYING TO PROTECT WHAT WATER THE TOWN HAS. ANDY TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA HOW DRY : TI IS HERE IN WINDHAM. THIS IS COLLINS BROOKE. THE WATER HERE IS USUALLY ABOUT SIX FEET DEEP. NEARLY TOUCHING THE BOTTOM OF THAT CULVERT BUT RIGHT NOW THE LITTLE PUDDLE IS ALL THEY HAVE LEFT. IT’S THE SAME STORY JUST ABOUT EVERYWHERE ELSE IN THE STATE. &gt;&gt; WERE NOW AT OVER 70% IN D2 WHICH IS SEVERE CROUGHT ACROSS THE STATE. IT’S EXTENDED ACROSS CENTRAL IND INTO NORTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE. ANDY: IN LONDONDERRY THERE ARE ONLY VOLUNTARY WATER RESTRICTIONS IN PLACE BUT THAT DOESN’T MEAN OFFICIALS AREN’T ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO CONSERVE. &gt;&gt; WE’RE JUST ASKING PEOPLE TO BE RESPONSIBLE. IT’S LIKE WEARING A MASK FOR COVID 19. STOP WASHING YOUR VEHICLES AND EVEN IN THE HOUSE IF YOU’RE BRUSHING YOUR TEETH SHUT OFF THE WATER WHILE YOUR BRUSHING YOUR TEETH. CONSERVE ON TAKING LONG SHOWER JUST CERTAIN THINGS LIKE THAT. ,ANDY WITH VERY LITTLE RAIN IN : THE FORECAST, IT LOOKS LIKE THESE CONDITIONS MAY BE WITH US FOR A WHILE. ANAdvertisementArea experiencing severe drought in NH jumps from 28% to 72% of stateSome towns impose water restrictionsDrought conditions worsened again this week, with nearly three-quarters of the state now experiencing a severe drought.&gt;&gt; Download the free WMUR appAccording to the United States Drought Monitor's report released Thursday morning, 72.39% of the state is experiencing a severe drought, up from last week's 28.31% number. &gt;&gt; Drought monitor report for New Hampshire"We farm along the Merrimack River," said Rob Morrill, of Morrill Dairy Farm. "I have never ever seen the Merrimack River as low in my lifetime."The severe drought area now stretches from south-central and southeastern areas, through the Lakes Region, the White Mountains and nearly all of the North Country."We're now at over 70% in D2, which is severe drought across the state," said Tom O'Donovan, director of the Water Division at the Department of Environmental Services. "It's extended across central and into northern New Hampshire."The rest of the state, including the Monadnock Region, western parts of the Dartmouth-Lake Sunapee Region and areas near the Canadian border, is in a moderate drought.Conditions for the current drought were first reported in the state in mid-May.&gt;&gt; Drought data archiveThe state is continuing to urge water districts to impose mandatory conservation measures as ground water levels are continuing to fall. In Windham, the town has implemented a level 2 water restriction, meaning lawns can only be watered twice a week on specific days and only overnight."We've had four warnings issued by our police for violating the ordinance," said Windham Town Administrator Dave Sullivan. "We've had about 11 complaints filed by residents on other residents because they see them watering. But it's important the residents follow what the guidance are, because we're trying to protect what water the town has."In Londonderry, voluntary water restrictions are in place, but that doesn't mean officials aren't encouraging people to conserve."We're just asking people to be responsible," said Londonderry Fire Chief Darren O'Brien. "It's like wearing a mask for COVID-19. Stop washing your vehicles and, even in the house, if you're brushing your teeth, shut off the water while you're brushing your teeth. Conserve on taking long showers, just certain things like that."The impact of the lack of rain is easy to spot at Morrill's Dairy Farm, where the corn is now gone."The corn crop, it's the earliest we ever harvested, and that was because we had corn drying up," Morrill said.The hay crop is also down by about one-third, according to Morrill. In some years, the farm might have been looking forward to a fourth cutting, but not this one."We've had a lot of ground burn-up," Morrill said. "As far as any chance of any fourth cutting this year -- zero."This is the worst drought in New Hampshire since 2016 when several areas of the state experienced an extreme drought, the fourth drought stage, from August through December. New Hampshire wasn't out of that drought altogether until May 2017.New England is the only area east of the Mississippi River that is seeing severe or extreme drought conditions. With no beneficial rain in the forecast in for at least the next seven days, it appears the drought will continue to be a longer-term issue.Drought conditions worsened again this week, with nearly three-quarters of the state now experiencing a severe drought.&gt;&gt;AdvertisementAccording to the United States Drought Monitor's report released Thursday morning, 72.39% of the state is experiencing a severe drought, up from last week's 28.31% number. &gt;&gt; "We farm along the Merrimack River," said Rob Morrill, of Morrill Dairy Farm. "I have never ever seen the Merrimack River as low in my lifetime."The severe drought area now stretches from south-central and southeastern areas, through the Lakes Region, the White Mountains and nearly all of the North Country."We're now at over 70% in D2, which is severe drought across the state," said Tom O'Donovan, director of the Water Division at the Department of Environmental Services. "It's extended across central and into northern New Hampshire."The rest of the state, including the Monadnock Region, western parts of the Dartmouth-Lake Sunapee Region and areas near the Canadian border, is in a moderate drought.Conditions for the current drought were first reported in the state in mid-May.&gt;&gt; The state is continuing to urge water districts to impose mandatory conservation measures as ground water levels are continuing to fall. In Windham, the town has implemented a level 2 water restriction, meaning lawns can only be watered twice a week on specific days and only overnight."We've had four warnings issued by our police for violating the ordinance," said Windham Town Administrator Dave Sullivan. "We've had about 11 complaints filed by residents on other residents because they see them watering. But it's important the residents follow what the guidance are, because we're trying to protect what water the town has."In Londonderry, voluntary water restrictions are in place, but that doesn't mean officials aren't encouraging people to conserve."We're just asking people to be responsible," said Londonderry Fire Chief Darren O'Brien. "It's like wearing a mask for COVID-19. Stop washing your vehicles and, even in the house, if you're brushing your teeth, shut off the water while you're brushing your teeth. Conserve on taking long showers, just certain things like that."The impact of the lack of rain is easy to spot at Morrill's Dairy Farm, where the corn is now gone."The corn crop, it's the earliest we ever harvested, and that was because we had corn drying up," Morrill said.The hay crop is also down by about one-third, according to Morrill. In some years, the farm might have been looking forward to a fourth cutting, but not this one."We've had a lot of ground burn-up," Morrill said. "As far as any chance of any fourth cutting this year -- zero."This is the worst drought in New Hampshire since 2016 when several areas of the state experienced an extreme drought, the fourth drought stage, from August through December. New Hampshire wasn't out of that drought altogether until May 2017.New England is the only area east of the Mississippi River that is seeing severe or extreme drought conditions. With no beneficial rain in the forecast in for at least the next seven days, it appears the drought will continue to be a longer-term issue.Loading more articles...

AdvertisementSome towns impose water restrictionsArea experiencing severe drought in NH jumps from 28% to 72% of stateSome towns impose water restrictionsHide TranscriptShow TranscriptS ANDY HERSHBERGER PORTS, PEOPLE ARE BEING ASKED TO CONSERVE AS MUCH WATER AS POSSIBLE. ANDY IT’S EXTREMELY DRY IN : WINDHAM. SO DRY IN FACT THAT ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO THEY WENT TO A LEVEL TWO WATER RESTRICTION. THAT MEANS LAWNS ARE ONLY WATERED TWICE A WEEK ON SPECIFIC DAYS AND ONLY OVERNIGHT. WE’VE HAD 4 WARNINGS ISSUED BY &gt;&gt; OUR POLICE FOR VIOLATING THE ORDINANCE. WE’VE HAD ABOUT A DOZEN COMPLAINTS...

New Hampshire drought update shows expansion of severe drought area

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