While the president elect Donald Trump says about climate change “It’s all a big hoax”, the New York State Department of Conservation (DEC) is asking residents in 15 counties to conserve water amid a drought watch.
The DEC announced this past week that New York City, Long Island, the Catskills region, and parts of the Hudson Valley are facing a significant shortage of rainfall and declining levels of streamflow and ground water. People in affected areas, especially those dependent on private groundwater wells, should conserve water during the coming weeks. DEC Interim Commissioner Sean Mahar said:
“Recent unseasonably warm weather and lack of precipitation have led to dry conditions for many counties in New York, resulting in some downstate areas being put under drought watch. Local water restrictions and educating residents about how to help conserve our water resources are crucial steps to help prevent a more severe shortage until conditions improve.”
The DEC has not said how long it expects the drought watch to last. USA Today reports the affected region has seen a shortage of 7-8 inches of rain over the past two months.
