September began with drought conditions intensifying across New Jersey. The month though saw a return of near normal precipitation. This was too late for farmers. On the 3rd, Governor James McGreevey requested to Congress a federal farm disaster declaration. It was estimated that the drought will cost farmers about $125 million in revenue. The corn harvest was expected to be down 25 percent and the soybean harvest down 30 percent. Revenue drops in some areas were over 50 percent. Hardest hit were farms in Salem, Gloucester and Cumberland Counties where losses approached 60 percent. Field crops such as hay, wheat, sorghum, soybeans and corn for animal feed were hardest hit because they are not irrigated. Only crops that were harvested through mid-July were in good shape. Labor, fertilizer, irrigation and packaging costs were rising. Even farmers that could irrigate were seeing ponds drying. Pumpkins were expected to be smaller in size. Farmers were seeing increased damage from wildlife as deer, small animals and insects moved into fields looking for food and water. Landscaping businesses were also hard hit by the drought. With watering restrictions in place, consumers shied away from new purchases. The grass became dormant. It was estimated that revenue for the landscaping business was off by one-third (about 100 million dollars). The Delaware River Basin Commission, which oversees water supply throughout the Delaware River Basin declared a "drought" on December 3, 2001 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 18, 2001. 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.  As of September 30th, the salt front along the Delaware River was ten miles farther upstream than its normal September  position. 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. The New York City Reservoirs which feed the Delaware River decreased from 59.7 percent of capacity on September 1st to 50.4 percent of capacity on October 1st.  The northern New Jersey reservoirs were at about 63 percent of capacity as of September 30th, about 8 percent below normal. For the month streamflow on the Delaware River was about 75 percent of normal. The drought had other affects across the state. A statewide ban of watering lawns and washing vehicles at residences was imposed. Limited outdoor watering of trees, shrubs and vegetable gardens was permitted on an odd-even basis. Open burning remained banned except for barbecues and permits for religious ceremonies. On September 20th, Governor McGreevey issued an administrative order creating a moratorium on new housing development in Egg Harbor, Galloway and Hamilton Townships. New water service was prohibited in any housing that was not started for the duration of the drought emergency. Atlantic County led the state in well replacements. There was concern about adequate water in streams, rivers, reservoirs and lakes for the autumn trout stocking. Black bears were having more interactions with humans in the northwest part of the state and were heading south toward the Pine Barrens in search of food and water. Oak worm caterpillars were defoliating trees in the southeast part of the state. It was feared they might be pushed over the edge since many were also defoliated by gypsy moth caterpillars in the spring. Recent droughts forced Brick Township (Ocean County) to begin construction on a new billion gallon reservoir. Water will be pumped from the Metedeconk River. On the positive side, the drought (and less inland runoff) led to better water quality in the oceans and bays. This summer had the lowest number of bay swimming bans since 1990. In Ocean County, there were no swimming bans at all.The return of normal rainfall in September held hope for late field crops. Nevertheless, groundwater monitoring wells in the southern part of the state remained near record lows. The preliminary statewide average precipitation total for the month of September was 4.08 inches. Normal is 4.15 inches. On a county weighted average, September monthly precipitation totals ranged from 3.0 inches in Cape May County to 4.8 inches in Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex and Bergen Counties. The greatest precipitation fell across central and northeast New Jersey. Monthly precipitation totals were 3.30 inches at the Atlantic City International Airport and 2.40 inches in Trenton.

Drought in SOUTHEASTERN BURLINGTON, NEW JERSEY
From 01-SEP-02 00:00:00 to 30-SEP-02 23:59:00 (EST)
Property damage: 0
Reported by: GOVT OFFICIAL

Drought in SUSSEX, NEW JERSEY
From 01-SEP-02 00:00:00 to 30-SEP-02 23:59:00 (EST)
Property damage: 0
Reported by: GOVT OFFICIAL

Drought in WARREN, NEW JERSEY
From 01-SEP-02 00:00:00 to 30-SEP-02 23:59:00 (EST)
Property damage: 0
Reported by: GOVT OFFICIAL

Drought in WESTERN ATLANTIC, NEW JERSEY
From 01-SEP-02 00:00:00 to 30-SEP-02 23:59:00 (EST)
Property damage: 0
Reported by: GOVT OFFICIAL

Drought in WESTERN CAPE MAY, NEW JERSEY
From 01-SEP-02 00:00:00 to 30-SEP-02 23:59:00 (EST)
Property damage: 0
Reported by: GOVT OFFICIAL

Drought in WESTERN MONMOUTH, NEW JERSEY
From 01-SEP-02 00:00:00 to 30-SEP-02 23:59:00 (EST)
Property damage: 0
Reported by: GOVT OFFICIAL

Drought in CUMBERLAND, NEW JERSEY
From 01-SEP-02 00:00:00 to 30-SEP-02 23:59:00 (EST)
Property damage: 0
Reported by: GOVT OFFICIAL

Drought in EASTERN ATLANTIC, NEW JERSEY
From 01-SEP-02 00:00:00 to 30-SEP-02 23:59:00 (EST)
Property damage: 0
Reported by: GOVT OFFICIAL

Drought in EASTERN CAPE MAY, NEW JERSEY
From 01-SEP-02 00:00:00 to 30-SEP-02 23:59:00 (EST)
Property damage: 0
Reported by: GOVT OFFICIAL

Drought in EASTERN MONMOUTH, NEW JERSEY
From 01-SEP-02 00:00:00 to 30-SEP-02 23:59:00 (EST)
Property damage: 0
Reported by: GOVT OFFICIAL

Drought in EASTERN OCEAN, NEW JERSEY
From 01-SEP-02 00:00:00 to 30-SEP-02 23:59:00 (EST)
Property damage: 0
Reported by: GOVT OFFICIAL

Drought in GLOUCESTER, NEW JERSEY
From 01-SEP-02 00:00:00 to 30-SEP-02 23:59:00 (EST)
Property damage: 0
Reported by: GOVT OFFICIAL

Drought in HUNTERDON, NEW JERSEY
From 01-SEP-02 00:00:00 to 30-SEP-02 23:59:00 (EST)
Property damage: 0
Reported by: GOVT OFFICIAL

Drought in MERCER, NEW JERSEY
From 01-SEP-02 00:00:00 to 30-SEP-02 23:59:00 (EST)
Property damage: 0
Reported by: GOVT OFFICIAL

Drought in MIDDLESEX, NEW JERSEY
From 01-SEP-02 00:00:00 to 30-SEP-02 23:59:00 (EST)
Property damage: 0
Reported by: GOVT OFFICIAL

Drought in MORRIS, NEW JERSEY
From 01-SEP-02 00:00:00 to 30-SEP-02 23:59:00 (EST)
Property damage: 0
Reported by: GOVT OFFICIAL

Drought in NORTHWESTERN BURLINGTON, NEW JERSEY
From 01-SEP-02 00:00:00 to 30-SEP-02 23:59:00 (EST)
Property damage: 0
Reported by: GOVT OFFICIAL

Drought in SALEM, NEW JERSEY
From 01-SEP-02 00:00:00 to 30-SEP-02 23:59:00 (EST)
Property damage: 0
Reported by: GOVT OFFICIAL

Drought in SOMERSET, NEW JERSEY
From 01-SEP-02 00:00:00 to 30-SEP-02 23:59:00 (EST)
Property damage: 0
Reported by: GOVT OFFICIAL

Drought in CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY
From 01-SEP-02 00:00:00 to 30-SEP-02 23:59:00 (EST)
Property damage: 0
Reported by: GOVT OFFICIAL

Drought in WESTERN OCEAN, NEW JERSEY
From 01-SEP-02 00:00:00 to 30-SEP-02 23:59:00 (EST)
Property damage: 0
Reported by: GOVT OFFICIAL