Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Drought Management topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
State recommends three counties move to stage 2 drought advisory amid low streamflows
Summary
The Interagency Drought Work Group recommended — and the governor approved — a stage 2 drought advisory for Fairfield, Middlesex and New Haven counties because of persistently low streamflow, low precipitation and elevated heat indices; the advisory places officials and utilities on heightened alert.
Becca Dahl, state drought coordinator at the Connecticut Office of Policy and Management, told the advisory group that the Interagency Drought Work Group met on June 10 and recommended the governor move Fairfield, Middlesex and New Haven counties to a stage 2 drought advisory.
"This movement was due largely to the persistently low streamflow levels, low precipitation, especially a lack of soaking rain, and some of the higher heat indices that we are seeing," Dahl said, summarizing the group’s rationale. The governor issued a press release approving the advisory.
Dahl emphasized that a stage 2 advisory is indicative of an emerging drought event and primarily serves to put stakeholders on alert rather than trigger widespread mandatory restrictions. The advisory asks utilities, municipalities and users to monitor conditions and consider voluntary measures that conserve water while agencies continue to track hydrologic indicators.
Next steps: the Interagency Drought Work Group will continue monitoring conditions and may recommend changes to advisory levels as data evolve; members invited questions about drought-related actions and coordination with utilities.
