Rockland County Placed Under Drought Watch by NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation

By: Yaker Biegeleisen

This has been an exceptionally dry summer, resulting in the declaration of a “drought watch” for most of the Hudson Valley region by the Department of Environmental Conservation. 

The months of June, July, and August of last year received about 28 inches of rain in Central New York. This year that number is about eight inches (although we are only halfway through August)! 

All counties in the region—except for Westchester County, which has adequate water storage (likely due to its low-lying position)—are under this advisory.  

According to the DEC website, there are five levels of drought advisories: “A "watch" is the first of four levels of state drought advisories ("watch," "warning," "emergency" and "disaster"),” it said.

At this level, there are no mandatory water-conservation measures. This advisory is meant to encourage residents to voluntarily conserve water.