The state?s Drought Emergency Management Team, a collection of state, local and federal officials, has declared a drought emergency. Later this week, the Department of Environmental Services will be providing municipal water suppliers with suggestions for water conservation measures. NHPR?s Dan Gorenstein reports.
There at least two good things about the news of a drought emergency declaration. One, it means there probably won?t be much flooding this spring. The other is the team of drought experts didn?t have sufficient evidence to call for a drought disaster. That would mean widespread water shortages and the governor could exercise emergency powers. Acting DES Commissioner Dana Bisby says today?s announcement is non-binding.
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:57 ?We are talking about the declaraion of an emergency where state is strongly encouraging communities to look hard at the options they have available to consider and impose, where appropriate, water use restrictions.
A drought emergency is the third most severe notice the state can provide in its four-tier system. Last fall, the state issued a drought warning. But precipitation levels fell below 75% of the average and drought management protocol calls for a drought emergency announcement. Only Coos County will remain at a drought warning level.
US Geological Survey Director Brian Mrazik says right now the conditions don?t look as bad as a drought emergency designation would suggest.
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:04 ?We have seen an early snow melt, and b/c of that we have seen some recovery in groundwater levels, we have seen some recovery in stream flows, so we are headed in the right direction. If we see normal or above precip levels in the next six weeks, before demand for water goes up, we could see progress in coming out of the drought. If we don?t see it above normal, we will be entering into high demand time with our situation considerably worse. So it?s a pivotal point in time.
It?s also a historic moment. Since creating the four-tier drought system, the state has never issued a drought emergency. And Tom Bowen, head of Manchester Waterworks says the Queen City has never even considered voluntary restrictions, let alone mandatory ones.I
:38 the waterworks is taking it very seriously, we are going ot be instituting a drought management plan that will be reviewed, and adopted by the board of water commissioners sometime later this month, and we are anticipating it will be in place once summer consumption period in May.
Bowen says Manchester?s plan will call for odd and even watering times, a restriction on washing cars, and trying to reduce the city?s water tab. But just because the state?s largest city is considering those moves, doesn?t mean all towns need to. DES?s Bob Mann.
1:26 by no means does the declaration of a drought emergency have to do with mandatory restrictions, and by no means does it apply to private well owners. But the m0ore people who receive the message that the drinking water supplies should be monitored, and this is a matter of concern, the need for conservation will take affect.
Disseminating word of the drought, is in the hands of the agency?s Brandon Kernen. In anticipation of the drought emergency announcement, Kernen says the agency is preparing various public service messages, a newspaper insert on how to effectively use water outdoors, 17 fact sheets that discuss conservation measures, and a blueprint towns could use to implement water conservation.
:38 the department is preparing a model water-use restriction ordinance, that a municipality could take and customize for their system. And this ordinance is really focused on limiting outdoor water use. We are going to be entering the time of year where people start washing their cars, watering their lawns, and water use can increase by 100%.
Jim Gallagher, chief water resources engineer for DES, and one of the leading members of the drought emergency management team knows first-hand about conservation. He even thinks about it in the shower.
1:48 the length of the shower, I am in and out of there far more quicker than I have been in the past. When I brush my teeth, I don?t let the water run like I used to. At home with my children and my wife I constantly remind them that we are in a drought, shorten things up.
The Drought Team is scheduled to meet again in four weeks. For NHPR News, I?m DG.
