The DEP is urging continued water conservation as the amount of precipitation over the next several months is key to replenishing streams and reservoirs impacted by the long-term precipitation deficit. Although we have been receiving some precipitation, it has been below normal and is insufficient to reverse the effects of a drought. Historically, this is the time of year when reservoirs start to refill, and they are still declining in the northeast.

At the time of this writing, the combined level of the four reservoir systems in the northeast (United Water Co., Jersey City, Newark and NJ District Water Supply Commission) is 42.7% full. Although this is 37.7 % below the historic average for this time of year, since some years had large amounts of precipitation, the levels are still within the normal operating range.

DEP issued a statewide drought watch on October 30, 2001, the Northwest, Southwest and Coastal South regions were placed into drought warning on November 21, and the Northeast and Coastal North regions moved into drought warning on January 24, 2002. A drought warning is still voluntary conservation but allows the state the authority to reduce passing flows, order transfers of water between water suppliers, or take other actions necessary to avert a drought emergency. Public hearings were held in December on the drought warning declaration.

New Jersey is divided into six drought management regions. DEP has developed a comprehensive set of indicators including stream and groundwater monitoring stations throughout the state, operated by the United States Geological Survey's New Jersey District. These indicators are used to help determine the drought conditions within the various drought regions.

Rainfall last year was below normal for 10 out of 12 months, averaging about nine inches below average (1895-2000.) Fall 2001 was exceptionally dry with the October-November period being the driest October-November period on record since 1895,with only 2.02 inches of rain. Fourteen of the last 16 months were below normal with only 74% of normal precipitation, while precipitation the last 5 months was only 50% of normal with 9.5 inches of rain.

For up-to-date information, go to DEP's drought website at www.njdrought.org or call 1-800-4-ITS-DRY (1-800-448-7379). The site also links to the USGS web page and the Delaware River Basin Commission.