Over the last 365 days, rainfall is down seven to 15 inches in many states. In June and July, New York City has gotten only 14 percent of its normal rain. Providence, Rhode Island has had 17 percent, Buffalo, New York, only 45 percent, and Portland, Maine 41 percent. Due to unusually low water levels in the Delaware River, water was being released from reservoirs at the highest rates in 10 years to support river flows at Trenton. Flows are monitored there to prevent salty water from Delaware Bay from moving upstream.
Red dots mark new record lows.
In Maryland, water flow in the Susquehanna River is down by two thirds. In the three reservoirs which serve 1.8 million people in the Baltimore area, Glendening says only a 35 day supply of water remains, assuming water consumption continues at its current rate. The commission has been asked to make recommendations to the President and Congress on how to better integrate federal drought laws and programs with ongoing state, local, and tribal programs without infringing on state control of water resources. Recommendations will also include ways to improve public awareness of the need for drought mitigation, prevention, and response, and consider whether to consolidate all federal drought preparation and response programs under one existing federal agency. The Commission sponsored its first public comment hearing on July 23.