WESTFORD — With rainfall reaching unprecedented lows since September, the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs declared a critical drought in the region.
Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper today declared a critical drought in northeastern and central Massachusetts, a significant drought in the southeast and western regions of the state. Cape Cod and the Islands have not been declared to be within a drought at the time of reporting.
The state Drought Task Force will meet biweekly to ensure “responsive oversight” of conditions.
“This autumn has felt different for all of us. Climate change is bringing drier weather to our state at times and extreme precipitation at others,” Tepper said. “It is critical that we all practice water conservation methods, especially indoors and adhere to local requirements to decrease the stress on our water systems and ensure essential needs, such as drinking water, habitats and fire suppression are being met.”
Officials from the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency encourage water conservation and adherence to outdoor burning restrictions.
Wildfires across the state
At the time of reporting, the state had experienced 203 wildfires in October. The state typically averages just 15 brush fires in October. The state is experiencing 47 active wildfires at the time of reporting, with 854 total fires this season which have burned approximately 1,365 acres statewide.
This announcement is on the heels of a brush fire in Middleton in October, where the Westford Fire Department along with other area departments were called to assist with the blaze.
Due to conditions, the Department of Conservation and Recreation has issued a temporary ban on all open flame and charcoal fires on state park properties.
According to precipitation data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Middlesex County has seen approximately four to five inches of rain over the last 90 days, eight to 10 inches below normal conditions.
Over the last 30 days, the county has had less than one inch of rainfall, three to four inches below normal conditions. The county has had no rainfall in November.
The Westford Water Department in September declared heightened water restrictions, which prohibit all non-essential outdoor water use until further notice.
