State officials will join Gov. Phil Murphy and water company officials Wednesday “to discuss the state entering Drought Warning status as prolonged dry periods continue statewide,” according to the Department of Environmental Protection.
At a DEP public hearing Tuesday, scientists gave grim reports: The state desperately needs rain; wildfires rage through tinder-dry forests; stream, river and reservoir levels have plunged — the Wanaque Reservoir, which supplies millions of people across north Jersey, is below 45%.
“These are low levels and they’re dropping. And we believe they will continue to drop over the coming weeks, unless we receive significant rainfall events,” said State Geologist Steve Domber.
“You can see a very bleak picture across the entire state, one that is only worsening,” agreed State Climatologist Dave Robinson.
New Jersey is already under a drought watch after logging its third-driest September. And in October, just 0.02 inches of rain fell, breaking state records for lack of rainfall.
Declaration of a drought warning by DEP Commissioner Shawn LaTourette could involve restrictions on reservoirs and water companies. It’s one level below a drought emergency declaration by the governor.
In Livingston, where a wildfire burned over 190 acres two weeks ago, water department officials said the DEP should have acted sooner.
“It’s sort of a double-whammy effect: we had these wildfires and have to use our water resources to fight these fires. So I really think this declaration to warning should’ve occurred sooner. If this drought persists into next year … we’re really going to get slammed,” said Livington Water Department engineer Nathan Kiracofe.
Kiracofe joined several advocates and water managers who urged the DEP to crack down on people who water their lawns, and to issue mandatory water restrictions.
The drought is having an outsize impact on farms and worrying homeowners who also draw their supplies from groundwater.
The DEP is expected to issue a drought declaration update on Wednesday.
