Drought in New Jersey, March 1 to 31, 2002

New Jersey entered March 2002 with considerably dry conditions and a drought warning in effect for most of the state. The northern New Jersey and New York City Reservoirs were at about 40 percent of capacity, well below normal. Most of the state's shallow groundwater wells were at the lowest levels ever for this time of year. Most of the surface streams and rivers were flowing at only about 25 percent of normal. The South River in Atlantic County ran dry. There was a record number (500) of wells being replaced throughout the state through early March. All precipitated Governor Jim McGreevey to declare a drought emergency for the state of New Jersey on March 4th. The drought emergency placed an immediate ban on non-essential use of water. Water could be served in restaurants only be request. Vehicles and boats could only be washed commercially. Grass watering was banned except in the Raritan Basin and North Coastal New Jersey (every other day). There was a limit to the amount of watering for newly seeded or sodded grass. Gardens, trees and shrubs could only be watered using a hose or watering can. Golf courses must cut back usage by 50 percent. Athletic fields could only be watered overnight. Washing of streets, roads, sidewalks, driveways, garages, parking areas and patios with potable water was banned. Only commercial power washing of surfaces permitted. Running water through fountains, artificial waterfalls and reflection pools were prohibited except to support wildlife. Flushing of sewer lines with potable water was banned. Pools, hot tubs and jacuzzis can be filled as long as they have the consent of the local water provider. Any pool drained prior to March 11th could be refilled and a pool could be drained (for repairs) and refilled once. Major water consumers (>200,000 gallons a day) must develop contingency plans for incremental reductions to 50 percent. Water companies serving more than 10,000 people have to make sure the equipment that allows them to transfer water to other providers is working properly. Water releases from Lake Hopatcong was reduced from 7.5 to 4.4 million gallons per day to maximize water storage. There was a moratorium of new water allocation registrations to businesses seeking to use 100,000 gallons a day. This was extended to requests for any developments as small as two homes. Water was being pumped from central (Raritan Valley) New Jersey to help northeast New Jersey. Along with the water restrictions came a ban on controlled burns as the Forest Service was heading into what usually is the start of the spring fire season. Recreational fires and open burns had to be coordinated with the New Jersey Forest Fire Service. Only outdoor barbecues and religious ceremonies that involved a fire were not banned. The unseasonably dry weather continued the fire season through the winter. The Forest Service responded to 1,116 wildfires between October 1, 2001 and March 25th, the most in 30 years. The drought not only could cause fires to spread quicker, but the streams and ponds used by the firefighters as water sources were drying out. Brooks and swamps that normally act as natural barriers to fire were running low. The drought can also prolong underground turf fires that can burn for days.Effects of the drought on individual counties included in Sussex County, one well company had 200 well deepening contracts on back order. Well problems occurred in at least five townships. In Warren County, Christmas tree farms were showing stress. In Morris County, Roxbury Township issued a moratorium on all new water connections. In Hunterdon County, drought emergencies were declared (Raritan Basin) in Clinton and Glen Garden Boroughs. Wells were running dry in Hampton Borough and Cherryville. There was an eight week waiting list for drillers. In Ocean County, Brick Township may cancel the spring little league and soccer seasons because a total watering ban of athletic fields was in effect. In Burlington County, there was a seven week back log for deepening wells. In Atlantic County, wells were being replaced at twice the rate of 2001. In Cumberland County, irrigation ponds were dry. In Cape May County, the salt water line had moved north about 300 feet since last year and was under Lower Township. Once salt water infiltrates a well, it becomes brackish and unusable. There are about 9,000 private wells in Lower Township. The drought had other affects across the area. Sprinkler system, garden centers, pond design, pool companies, landscapers and wholesale nurseries were expected to suffer because of the restrictions. Some frogs and salamanders are not expected to reproduce this year because most of the 3,000 to 5,000 vernal (winter) pools they lay their eggs in are dry. Wildlife in general was expected to be threatened by higher concentrations of lawn chemicals, pesticides, septic runoff and pollutants in the streams. A farmer's fish population died after he pumped water from the Manasquan River into his pond. The trout restocking went as scheduled, but the state avoided stocking them in smaller streams and brooks. Due to the lack of feed and warm weather there have been more nuisance bear sightings and deer have damaged more of the corn and alfalfa crops. The high number of acorns left on the ground led to a boom in the wild turkey population. Lower ground water levels led to poorer water quality that needed further treatment. Laundromat businesses were booming because people were afraid of running out of well water. Commercial car washes were also doing well. New golf course openings may be cancelled or postponed in Hunterdon and Mercer Counties. The winter wheat crop was suffering. The spring allergy season started earlier and stronger because of the dry, warm weather. The low level of Lake Hopatcong was expected to harm the local economy. The Budweiser Plant in Newark had to start using water from the Raritan River instead of the Wanaque Reservoir. The lack of standing water was expected to diminish the impact of mosquitoes and West Nile Disease. The Delaware River Basin Commission, which oversees water supply throughout the Delaware River Basin declared a "drought" on December 3rd when the supply of water in the New York City reservoir system dropped below a designated level for early December. The commission declared a drought emergency on December 18th. Both triggered additional reductions in the amount of water released from the reservoirs into the Delaware River and the amount diverted out of the Delaware River Basin to New York City and New Jersey. Diversions to New York City dropped from 800 million gallons a day to 520 million gallons a day. The emergency declaration gave the commission the power to restrict the amount of water suppliers could draw from the basin. It gave the commission the authority to take water from municipal reservoirs to maintain river levels. It could also call for water releases from federal, state and privately owned reservoirs. Water from Lake Nockamixon, the F.E. Walter Reservoir and Lake Wallenpaupack could be used to maintain river levels. They were last used for this purpose in the 1960s. The releases help protect the riverbank and aquatic life and also prevents salt water from flowing up the Delaware River. Salt water intrusion causes corrosion problems for industries and increases water treatment costs for municipalities that depend on the river for their water supply. Maintaining river levels are also important for groundwater reserves that are recharged by the river itself. On March 1st, the salt front along the Delaware River was five miles farther upstream than normal. The emergency declaration also gives the commission the power to request that utilities and other companies that use more than one million gallons of water a day to prepare contingency plans to use less water and submit the plans to the commission. Conditions improved in New Jersey as the month wore on. Precipitation events on March 2nd and 3rd, 13th, 17th and 18th, 20th, 26th and 31st resulted in above normal precipitation for most of the state. The March 2nd and 3rd precipitation event was the heaviest event in some locations since September of 2001. This was the first month since June of 2001 that the statewide average monthly precipitation (4.35 inches preliminary average) was wetter than normal (4.17 inches). On a county weighted average, March monthly precipitation totals ranged from 3.0 inches in Sussex County to 4.8 inches in Atlantic County. Monthly precipitation totals were 4.21 inches in Trenton and 5.61 inches at the Atlantic City International Airport. Soil moisture in farms reached down to about 10 inches by the end of the month. Reservoirs and groundwater levels started to improve, but were still below normal. Most are normally near capacity by the end of the month. The Northern New Jersey reservoirs increased from about 40 percent to 48 percent of capacity during the month. The Spruce Run Reservoir in Hunterdon County increased from 32 to 40 percent of capacity. In Monmouth County, the Swimming River Reservoir was overflowing and the other its two reservoirs were up to about 85 percent of capacity. A monitoring groundwater well in Hunterdon County rose five feet during the month. The New York City Reservoirs which feed the Delaware River increased from 39.3 percent of capacity on March 1st to 50.2 percent of capacity on April 1st. The salt front on the Delaware River was only 2 miles farther upstream than normal on April 1st. But, average flow for the major streams and rivers were still only about 50 percent of normal.