Drought Advisory
Following recent months of unusually dry weather in most of the state, the Massachusetts Drought Management Task Force (DMTF) issued a Drought Advisory on October 10, 2007 for all of Massachusetts, except for Berkshire County and Cape Cod and the Islands. The Advisory Level Drought Map and press release are posted on the Web at: http://mass.gov/dcr/waterSupply/rainfall/drought.htm. Advisory Level Drought effects the following:
Wetlands Protection Act Regulations: Observations of no flow made on October 1, 2007 or thereafter may not be used to prove a perennial river is an intermittent stream with no Riverfront Area since "Extended Drought" conditions exist. See 310 CMR 10.58(2)(a)1.d. and f. The Extended Drought remains in effect until such time as water resource conditions return to normal. At such time, the DMTF will issue written findings declaring that the drought is over. The written findings declaring the drought over will be posted at the MassDCR web site.
Observations of no flow made before October 1, 2007 may be used to prove a watercourse is intermittent with no Riverfront Area, provided the watercourse is not subject to drawdown from withdrawals of water supply wells, direct withdrawals, impoundments, or other man-made flow reductions or diversions. Intermittent streams and activities within the 100-foot buffer zone are jurisdictional under the Wetlands Protection Act regulations ("Land Under Water" and "Bank") and remain subject to review by Conservation Commissions, if the intermittent stream is located down gradient of other wetlands.
Drought Advisory Impact on Wetlands Protection Act
DEM - Rain Fall Program