Critical drought designation dropped for region

By MICHAEL P. NORTON

State House News Service

Published: 01-09-2025 10:03 AM

BOSTON — Drought conditions are no longer considered “critical” in the Pioneer Valley and two other regions of Massachusetts, following designation adjustments made in the wake of what state officials described as “several weeks of snow and rain.”

Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper on Wednesday declared the Central, Northeast and Connecticut River Valley regions as in a Level 2 Significant Drought, down from Level 3 Critical Drought.

The Western and Southeast regions of Massachusetts were moved from a Level 3 Critical Drought to a Level 1 Mild Drought status.

“Seeing drought conditions improve across nearly all our regions is encouraging,” Tepper said. “That said, we need to continue practicing indoor water conservation to fully recover and reduce future drought impacts. I want to recognize everyone who has been helping us combat the unprecedented wildfires and drought conditions over the past several months. We continue to express our gratitude to those first responders and ask everyone to exercise caution in their water use.”

Most of the state received between 3 and 6 inches of rain and snow, and 6 and 8 inches in the Southeast region, over the past month, according to state officials. Still, streamflows remain low in the Northeast, Central and Connecticut River Valley regions, they said, and groundwater levels are improving across the state, “except on the Cape where groundwater is decreasing, even though it is in the normal range.”

The Cape and Islands regions remain in a Level 1 Mild Drought category.

The state’s five-level drought system also features Level 0 Normal and Level 5 Emergency Drought.

Article continues after...

Yesterday's Most Read Articles