May 15, 2025 - Drought Updates:
A new Drought Declaration was declared on May 9th, 2025, reflecting conditions as of April 1, 2025. The Secretary’s Declaration finds that the Central Drought Region has returned to normal conditions (Level 0) and is no longer in a drought. As a reminder, Drought Regions do not match up perfectly with MassDEP Regions. Some CERO communities remain in a declared drought. Please review the map below to locate your community’s drought status.
Observations of no flow made during the effective dates of a Drought Declaration may not be used for any pending decisions or incoming RDAs, ANRADs, or NOIs to change the status of a River with Riverfront Area until Level 0 status is again declared. Please note that CERO Communities have or had been in declared droughts reflecting conditions since either: September 1, 2024, or October 1, 2024. It is necessary to review past and current drought maps to determine the effective dates for your community. These maps are found on MassDEP’s website at https://www.mass.gov/info-details/drought-status.
- CERO communities that have been returned to a “Level 0 – Normal Conditions” can consider observations of no flow documented after April 1, 2025, that meet the criteria outlined in 310 CMR 10.58(2), to change the status of a River.
- The effective drought period for Central Drought Region communities is September 1, 2024 – March 31, 2025. Commissions should keep note these dates as data collected during this time period may not be used for observations of no flow in future filings.
- CERO communities in the Northeast or Southeast Drought Region remain in a declared drought.
Please reach out if you have any questions regarding the determination of a perennial stream.
Additional information can be found at: Drought Management in Massachusetts | Mass.gov.
March 18, 2025 Drought UPDATE
February 14, 2025 Drought UPDATE:
Despite snow and recent rainfall, we are still in a declared drought and the EEA recently elevated the drought status for many of the regions. Please see the attached Feb. 14, 2025, MA Drought Alert. Additional information can be found at: Drought Management in Massachusetts | Mass.gov. Please reach out if you have any questions regarding the determination of a perennial stream.
Good afternoon,
In spite of recent storm events and snow fall, Massachusetts in still in a drought. Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) Secretary Rebecca Tepper declared the following:
- Level 3 - Critical Drought in the Central and Northeast Regions
- Level 2 - Significant Drought in the Connecticut River Valley, Southeast, Cape Cod and Islands Regions
- Level 1 - Mild Drought in the Western Region
EEA and MEMA continue to ask local, state and regional partners and stakeholder groups to assist in disseminating this information to residents, businesses and institutions in their respective communities. Attached is a one page “Drought Alert” (in pdf and jpg formats) that provides information on the current drought conditions and how individuals and communities across the Commonwealth can do their part on water conservation and drought preparedness and response. Also attached are two drought related infographics (What To Do During a Drought and Still in Drought) that you can feel free to distribute to your networks.
For more information on the current drought conditions, technical guidance regarding drought management actions and for drought-related tools and outreach materials, please visit www.mass.gov/drought; for water conservation information, go to www.mass.gov/conservemawater.
Thank you,
Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs