Press Release  Drought Conditions Return to Normal in Islands Region

BOSTON — Following several months of above normal rainfall, Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) Secretary Rebecca Tepper declared the Islands Region will be downgraded from Level 1-Mild Drought to Level 0-Normal Conditions. All other regions of the state remain in Level 0-Normal Conditions. As outlined in the Massachusetts Drought Management Plan, Level 0-Normal Conditions status warrants continued monitoring of drought conditions, close coordination among state and federal agencies, and technical outreach and assistance to the affected municipalities if drought conditions return.  

“After several months of experiencing drought conditions, I am pleased to declare that the Islands region has returned to normal. However, we need to continue practicing water conservation methods to enable full recovery and minimize impacts of future droughts across the State,” said EEA Secretary Tepper. “The Healey-Driscoll Administration thanks those who contributed to our drought resiliency efforts. We must take an all-of-government approach to address these challenges as we experience more extreme and frequent weather events due to climate change.”     

Today’s declaration is the result of recommendations made by the state’s Drought Management Task Force, which is composed of state and federal officials, and other entities. Recent months brought above-average rainfall in the Islands region aiding with full recovery of long-term precipitation and near recovery of groundwater. Groundwater levels on Nantucket are still slightly below normal but have improved since last month and are expected to continue to improve due to forecasted weather conditions.  The declaration will remain in effect until drought conditions resume.   

The Drought Management Task Force will not meet until drought conditions set in again. State agencies will, however, continue to closely monitor and assess conditions across Massachusetts, coordinate any needed dissemination of information to the public, and help state, federal, and local agencies prepare additional responses that may be needed in the future. For further information on water conservation and what residents can do, visit the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs’ drought and water conservation pages.  

###