ALBANY, N.Y. — The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation issued an update on drought conditions this weekend, and there's good news for Western New York.
The state's Drought Management Task Force said 34 counties returned from a drought watch to normal designations. Of those, six are in the Western New York region.
They are as follows: Albany, Broome, Cayuga, Chautauqua, Chenango, Columbia, Cortland, Delaware, Erie, Fulton, Genesee, Greene, Herkimer, Livingston, Madison, Monroe, Montgomery, Niagara, Onondaga, Oneida, Ontario, Orleans, Otsego, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, Seneca, Sullivan, Tioga, Tompkins, Washington, Wyoming, and Yates.
The change is due to recent rainfall which boosted both ground and surface water levels.
Dutchess, Nassau, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Suffolk, and Ulster counties remain in a drought watch due to ongoing precipitation deficits, unseasonably low stream flows, and groundwater declines.
A watch is the lowest of state drought advisories, followed by warning, emergency, and disaster. No mandatory restrictions are in place under a state drought watch.
To protect water resources, homeowners in drought watch regions are encouraged to voluntarily reduce outdoor water use and follow these tips from the DEC:
- Water lawns only when necessary, choose watering methods that avoid waste, and water in the early morning to reduce evaporation and maximize soil hydration
- Reuse water collected in rain barrels, dehumidifiers, or air conditioners to water plants
- Raise lawn mower cutting heights. Longer grass is healthier with stronger roots and needs less water
- Use a broom, not a hose, to clean driveways and sidewalks; and
- Fix leaking pipes, hoses, and faucets