Garden State Times

As New Jersey faces historically low precipitation and high temperatures, Governor Phil Murphy and DEP Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette have declared a Drought Warning for the state. This announcement comes amid a significant increase in wildfires, with firefighters battling blazes during a record-breaking dry spell affecting the Northeast.

Since early October, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service has responded to 537 wildfires, marking a more than 1,300% increase over the same period last year. Tragically, Dariel Vasquez, an employee of the New York State parks system, lost his life while fighting the Jennings Creek wildfire along New Jersey's border with New York.

The drought conditions have led to mandatory statewide Stage 3 fire restrictions prohibiting all fires unless contained in elevated stoves using propane, natural gas, or electricity. Commissioner LaTourette signed an Administrative Order authorizing the Drought Warning designation to allow closer management of water systems through directed water transfers among systems and controlling releases from reservoirs.

Governor Murphy emphasized the impact of climate change on these unprecedented weather conditions: "New Jersey is experiencing unprecedented weather conditions—as a result of climate change—that require us to take these precautionary measures now."

Commissioner LaTourette added that "climate change is driving our record low precipitation and above-average temperature recorded statewide in September and October." The measures taken aim to protect against future water shortages as streamflow and groundwater levels decrease.

The goal of a Drought Warning is to preserve available water supplies and avert more serious shortages. The DEP has been consulting with water suppliers to ensure they are prepared for continued dry weather and high demand.

Residents are urged to conserve water by letting lawns go dormant for winter, shutting off irrigation systems promptly, using watering cans for plants sparingly, sweeping sidewalks instead of hosing them down, opting for commercial car washes that recycle water, fixing leaky faucets and pipes at home, upgrading toilets to low-flow versions saving around 11,000 gallons per year each; installing low-flow showerheads saving approximately 7,700 gallons annually; upgrading faucets or adding aerators could save about 16 thousand gallons every year.

Different types of droughts affect regions differently; meteorological drought refers specifically when there’s little rain combined with high heat—conditions experienced across NJ lately—and hydrological ones concern reductions within reservoirs/streams/groundwater monitored by DEP alongside public/private providers alike depending upon what data shows regarding declining storage capacities throughout various areas within state borders according National Drought Mitigation Center’s U.S Monitor which indicates current impacts extend beyond half United States including entire states like Delaware parts Eastern Pennsylvania Southern York suffering moderate effects too besides NJ itself already seeing deficits nearing ten inches below normal past three months particularly southern sections thereof according department's regional monitoring program sorting geographic parts common sources watershed boundaries defining six regions each varying severity requiring tailored approaches accordingly yet present circumstances remain uniformly dry overall requiring coordinated efforts prevent further complications moving forward until situation improves naturally hopefully soon enough meanwhile remain vigilant cautious especially outdoors avoid unnecessary risks altogether whenever possible

For more information on New Jersey's water supply status visit njdrought.org or dep.nj.gov/conserve-water/.