Ten additional counties in New York’s Great Lakes region have been moved from drought watch to drought warning status, according to an announcement by Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). The state is urging residents, including those who rely on private groundwater wells, to conserve water during the ongoing dry conditions.
“Less than a week after I implemented a statewide burn ban, the drought conditions, even after this week’s rains, are not getting much better and we’re forced to add more counties to the drought warning category,” Governor Hochul said. “It’s important that we keep taking proactive steps to keep communities and farmers safe. Once again, we urge everyone in the state to do what they can to conserve water while this dry weather continues.”
The drought watch or warning now covers all of New York State except for New York City and Westchester County. These advisories do not include mandatory restrictions but call for increased public awareness and voluntary conservation measures. Local governments and industries are encouraged to follow their own drought contingency plans.
Counties under the new drought warning include Allegany, Cattaraugus, northern Cayuga, Chautauqua, Chemung, Clinton, Erie, Essex, Franklin, Genesee, Hamilton, Jefferson, northern Herkimer, Lewis, Monroe, Niagara, Orleans, Oswego, Steuben, St. Lawrence, Warren, and Wayne.
New York State DEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton stated: “We encourage everyone to do their part to conserve water while we face these drier than normal conditions. The small amount of rain we received recently is not enough to overcome larger water deficits in many areas. Being more careful with water use now can prevent greater effects on our water resources. Whether it’s taking a shorter shower, not watering the lawn, or other smart reduction efforts, we can all do our part to conserve water.”
Although some rain is forecasted across parts of New York State and certain areas saw rainfall between October 7 and 8th, precipitation over the past three months remains below average almost everywhere in the state. Deficits range from two to eight inches depending on location. Stream flows and groundwater levels continue to decline in some regions.
Drought status in New York is determined using a state-specific index that may differ from national assessments. Local authorities may also set their own criteria based on local conditions.
Drought preparedness involves monitoring climate trends for early warnings as well as implementing both short- and long-term measures aimed at reducing impacts on sectors such as agriculture and energy production. The DEC works with the U.S. Geological Survey on hydrologic monitoring throughout the state.
A Drought Management Task Force coordinates information sharing among agencies including DEC; Office of Emergency Management; Department of Health; Department of Agriculture and Markets; Canal Authority; Thruway Authority; and New York Power Authority.
Residents are advised to contact their local water system for updates about preparedness activities or view annual reports through the Know Your NY Water website.
Farmers are encouraged to monitor their on-farm water supplies closely and seek support from county emergency management offices or Soil and Water Conservation Districts if needed.
Drought conditions affect both aquatic life—due to reduced stream flows—and terrestrial ecosystems by limiting plant growth. They may also contribute alongside other factors like sunny weather or warm temperatures toward harmful algae blooms (HABs). Information about current HABs is available through DEC’s reporting page.
Earlier this month Governor Hochul put a statewide burn ban into effect until October 15 due to elevated fire risk caused by dry weather. This prohibits most outdoor burning except for small contained fires such as backyard fire pits within specified size limits.
Those who depend on private wells should check regularly for issues beyond just low groundwater levels—for example mechanical failures—and consider options like installing storage tanks or deepening wells if necessary.
To help conserve water resources during this period residents are urged to reduce outdoor watering where possible; reuse collected rainwater; raise mower heights; fix leaks promptly; run only full loads when washing dishes or laundry; take shorter showers; install efficient plumbing fixtures; avoid running taps unnecessarily; and limit car washing frequency.
Further information about conservation tips is available via DEC’s Water Use & Conservation webpage.
