Who is a member?
Our members are the local governments of Massachusetts and their elected and appointed leadership.
Following months of below-normal precipitation levels, Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper on Jan. 12 announced an increase in the drought level for the Central, Northeast and Southeast regions of the state, the Millers River Basin, and Nantucket County, meaning that much of the state now faces significant to critical drought.
The changes follow a multi-month period during which much of the state has received below-average precipitation, which has impacted both streamflow and groundwater levels, Tepper said. Streams are drying up and groundwater conditions are worsening, especially on Cape Cod and Nantucket, where groundwater levels are below normal. Despite rainfall events in December, a lack of consistent precipitation has elevated fire risk throughout the state.
Nantucket County and Millers River Basin are now at Level 3: Critical Drought, the Central and Northeast regions are now at a Level 2: Significant Drought, and the Southeast Region is now at a Level 1: Mild Drought. The Cape Cod region remains at Level 2, the Connecticut River Valley region remains at Level 1.
The Western Region and Dukes County (Martha’s Vineyard) are not experiencing drought conditions.
The state’s drought status and resources are available online.
The Massachusetts Bureau of Forest Fire Control and Forestry offers a variety of programs aimed at reducing potential wildfire impacts.
The state has also developed drought management and water conservation resources for individuals and municipalities to reduce strains on the water supply. Some immediate steps that communities can take include water restriction enforcement, establishing water-use reduction targets, and providing drought and water conservation information to residents and businesses.