Drought in New Jersey, April 1 to 30, 2002

A wetter pattern developed during late March that lasted through April. Although April precipitation amounts rebounded, they still remained slightly below normal. April was the tenth consecutive month of below normal precipitation across the region. Sixteen of the past 19 months, since October 2000, have been below normal. The total precipitation deficit during the past 19 months was 18.56 inches. The total deficit during the past 10 months was 15.11 inches. The region averaged 3.81 inches for April, which was 93 percent of normal. Precipitation averaged 74 percent of normal during the past 19 months and 60 percent of normal during the past 10 months.The combined storage in the 13 major reservoirs serving northeast New Jersey at the end of the month was at 64.7 percent capacity, which was 32 percent below normal. Capacities in the individual reservoirs at the end of the month were: Newark Reservoirs 56.7% (Percent capacity)Jersey City Reservoirs 74.6%North Jersey District 64.8%United Water of New Jersey 64.5%Although streamflows remained below normal during April, there was some improvement during the wetter pattern. Flows in the less than 10 percent range on April 23rd included the Saddle River at Ridgewood and Lodi, Passaic River at Little Falls, Pascack Brook at Westwood, Ramapo River at Mahwah, Ringwood Creek at Wanaque, Pompton River at Pompton Plains and the Rahway River at Rahway.Ground-water levels continued at or near record lows.Water conservation declarations were upgraded across the region, consistent with the persistent drought conditions. Passaic, Bergen, Essex, Hudson, and Union Counties remained under a state-wide Drought Emergency since March 4th.