DEC Declares Drought Watch in Ulster County, 14 More

On Nov. 2, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) declared a drought watch for 15 New York counties, including Ulster County, following a record-low period of rainfall through October. 10 days later, the DEC issued a statewide burn ban, which is scheduled to stay in effect until Nov. 30. 

“Recent unseasonably warm weather and lack of precipitation have led to dry conditions for many counties in New York,” said DEC interim Commissioner Sean Mahar. “Local water restrictions and educating residents about how to help conserve our water resources are crucial steps to help prevent a more severe shortage until conditions improve.”

This past October was the fourth driest on record over the past 130 years in Ulster County. Throughout the past 30 days, Ulster County and all other bordering counties have had precipitation levels between 0 and 25% of normal levels. 

The drought watch is in effect specifically for New York State drought region II, which contains Ulster, Sullivan, Orange, Dutchess, Greene, Delaware, Putnam, Rockland and Schoharie Counties, as well as drought region IIA, which contains Westchester County and all New York City boroughs. The state is divided into drought regions based on county lines and drainage basins, with Ulster County’s region being one of nine. Through monitoring precipitation, lake and reservoir levels, stream flow and groundwater level, a certain region’s drought status can be determined. At the time of publication, the rest of the state’s drought regions are in a normal state. 

Although there are no restrictions on water usage, New York residents are encouraged to reduce water use. In order to do so, the DEC recommends that residents fix any leaking pipes, hoses and faucets, turn off the faucet while shaving, washing up, brushing teeth and washing dishes, wash only full loads of dishes and laundry and take shorter showers or fill the bathtub only partially. Outside the house, raising your lawn mower cutting height, using a pool cover, washing your car less frequently and sweeping sidewalks rather than hosing them can also be helpful.

Among other issues, one of the most dangerous results of a prolonged dry season can be increased instances of forest wildfires. The longer a forest stays dry, the more dehydrated vegetation becomes, making it much more flammable. This, combined with low humidity or high winds, can dramatically increase fire risks. Even a simple mistake from one person can cause a chain reaction, potentially leading to a fire. As New Paltz Fire Chief Cory Wirthmann put it, “Everything kind of dries out, becomes brittle, [which] makes it easier to burn.”

Before the DEC announced the drought watch, the Town of New Paltz had already responded to the increasingly dry fall season by enforcing a burn ban on Oct. 23, which is still in effect alongside the state-issued burn ban. Nearby towns like Plattekill and Rosendale have done the same, and other neighboring towns – Gardiner and Woodstock – have even declared a state of emergency.

Under the rules of the statewide burn ban, outdoor fires for purposes of brush and debris disposal, uncontained campfires and open fires used for cooking are all prohibited, but backyard fire pits and other contained fires less than three feet in height and four feet in length, width and diameter and small, contained cooking fires are allowed. Under the rules of Gardiner’s burn ban, burning any combustible material in an outdoor area and engaging in any outdoor activity that could create flames or sparks resulting in a fire are prohibited. 

The current drought watch status is one of four drought stages that can occur during dry conditions. If conditions worsen, it may be upgraded to a drought warning, drought emergency or in the worst case, a drought disaster. An upgrade to drought emergency or higher could result in mandatory water usage restrictions.

According to the DEC, some possible results of D2 droughts, which is what Ulster County is currently experiencing, are reduced air and water quality, trees becoming more brittle and susceptible to insects and impacts on yield and size of specialty crops.

The Oracle also recently reported on multiple wildfires that took place in drought region II this fall, specifically in Plattekill, Denning and Greenwood Lake. The Greenwood Lake Jennings Creek fire has been the largest in the state since at least 2008. As of Nov. 15, the Plattekill and Denning fires are 100% contained. However, the Greenwood Lake fire, which has spread across the state into New Jersey, is only 69% contained on the New York side and 75% contained on the New Jersey side. 

In order to combat the Jennings Creek fire, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul secured a Fire Management Assistance Grant Declaration from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) on Nov. 15, which will provide funding to cover some of the costs that have come with controlling and stopping the fire. “Along with our partners in federal, state and local government, we are working around the clock to contain the fire and keep New Yorkers safe,” Hochul said. In the same announcement, Hudson Valley and Long Island’s fire danger level were also elevated to “very high.” 

A Nov. 8 fire in Brooklyn’s Prospect Park also recently made statewide headlines. The fire, which took about three hours to put out, may take up to three years of planting and long-term care before it can return to the state it was in before.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, research has shown that recent changes in climate have caused an overall shift in seasonal weather, which is a probable cause of longer and more active fire seasons. If true, dry seasons like this fall are something to expect more of in the years to come. 

At the time of publishing, there are six active wildfires in New York State, covering more than 6,000 acres of land. An interactive map of all country-wide fires can be accessed at www.fireweatheravalanche.org/fire/state/new-york. For more information on water conservation tips, visit www.dec.ny.gov/environmental-protection/water/water-quantity/water-use-conservation, and to stay up to date with drought conditions in the state, visit the DEC’s website at www.dec.ny.gov.