- Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection
Media Contact for Massachusetts Drought Implications for Riverfront Area
Edmund Coletta, MassDEP – Director of Public Affairs
2024 Drought: Implications for Riverfront Area
July 2024
Following two months of below-average rainfall, Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) Secretary Rebecca Tepper declared a Level 1-Mild Drought in the Western Region of Massachusetts. All other regions of the state – Connecticut River Valley, Central, Northeast, Southeast, Cape Cod, and Islands – currently remain in Level 0-Normal conditions.
The Massachusetts Wetlands Protection regulations, 310 CMR 10.58(2)(a)1.f. state that Rivers include perennial streams that cease to flow during periods of extended drought. Extended drought is defined at 310 CMR 10.58(2)(a)1.f. as an "Advisory" or more severe drought level in accordance with the Massachusetts Drought Management Plan (MDMP). The MDMP most recently revised in 2019 provides that the Level 1-Mild Drought was formerly the Advisory level drought. Therefore, observations of no flow during a Level 1 – Mild Drought or more severe drought level may not be used to determine a perennial river does not contain Riverfront Area.
The latest drought status is available through the MA Drought Task Force website.
Effective Date of Extended Drought for Purposes of the Wetlands Protection Act Regulations
For the Western EEA Drought Region: Field observations made on June 1, 2024, or later may not be used to support an intermittent stream determination pursuant to 310 CMR 10.58(2)(a)1.d.
Contact the appropriate MassDEP Circuit Riders with any questions.
*Please note that that EEA Drought Regions do not match the MassDEP Regions.
2022 Drought: Implications for Riverfront Area
August 2022
On July 21, 2022, Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) Secretary Bethany Card declared a Level 3 – Critical Drought in the Northeast and Central Regions, a Level 2 – Significant Drought in the Connecticut River Valley and Southeast Regions, and a Level 1 – Mild Drought in the Western, Cape Cod and Islands Regions of the Commonwealth. The Massachusetts Wetlands Protection regulations, 310 CMR 10.58(2)(a)1.f. state that Rivers include perennial streams that cease to flow during periods of extended drought. Extended drought is defined at 310 CMR 10.58(2)(a)1.f. as an "Advisory" or more severe drought level in accordance with the Massachusetts Drought Management Plan (MDMP). The MDMP most recently revised in 2019 provides that the Level 1-Mild Drought was formerly the Advisory level drought. Therefore, observations of no flow during a Level 1 – Mild Drought or more severe drought level may not be used to determine a perennial river does not contain Riverfront Area. The latest drought status is available at Drought Status page .
Effective Date of Extended Drought for Purposes of the Wetlands Protection Act Regulations
For the Southeast and Islands EEA Drought Regions: Field observations made on April 1, 2022, or later may not be used to support an intermittent stream determination. For the Northeast, Central, and Connecticut River Valley EEA Drought Regions: Field observations made on May 1, 2022, or later may not be used to support an intermittent stream determination.
For the Western EEA Drought Region: Field observations made on June 1, 2022, or later may not be used to support an intermittent stream determination
For the Cape Cod EEA Drought Region: Field observations made on July 1, 2022, or later may not be used to support an intermittent stream determination
