BOSTON – Following several weeks of snow and rain, Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper declared the Central, Northeast, and Connecticut River Valley regions will be downgraded from a Level-3 Critical Drought to a Level-2 Significant Drought.
The Western and Southeast Regions will also move from a Level-3 Critical Drought to a Level-1 Mild Drought status due to improved conditions. The Cape and Islands regions remain in a Level-1 Mild Drought.
A Level-1 Mild Drought require detailed monitoring of drought conditions, continued coordination among state and federal agencies to advance the implementation of water use restrictions, engagement with municipalities, including local Boards of Health, providing technical outreach and assistance to water suppliers and affected municipalities.
"Seeing drought conditions improve across nearly all our regions is encouraging. That said, we need to continue practicing indoor water conservation to fully recover and reduce future drought impacts," said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper. "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."
Over the past month, most of the state received between 3-6 inches of rain and snow, and 6-8 inches in the southeast region. This precipitation is important for restoring normal conditions after last year's severe drought and fire risks. Despite the recent rain and snowfall, streamflow remains low in the Northeast, Central, and Connecticut River Valley regions.
Groundwater levels are also improving in all areas, except on the Cape where groundwater is decreasing, even though it is in the normal range. Residents can report dry environmental conditions they are experiencing and submit photos to support state drought monitoring efforts here.
Below are recommendations for communities and individuals?living and working within a Level 1 – Mild Drought region.
Residents and Businesses:
Minimize overall water use;
Fix indoor leaks, such as from toilets, faucets, and showers, which result in more than 60 percent of indoor use;
For larger buildings and businesses, conduct water audits to identify areas of leaks and potential water conservation opportunities;
Communities/Municipalities:
Establish a year-round water?conservation program that includes public education and communication, taking advantage of the state’s?library of outreach?materials;
Provide timely drought and water conservation information to local residents and businesses;
Check emergency inter-connections for water supply; and
Develop a local drought management plan (learn more?here).
State agencies will continue to closely monitor and assess conditions across the state, coordinate any needed dissemination of information to the public, and help federal, state, and local agencies prepare additional responses that may be needed in the future. The Drought Management Task Force will meet again on Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025 at?10:00 AM. For further information on water conservation and what residents can do, visit the EEA’s drought and water conservation pages.
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.
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ADOPTED! Companion Corner: Cali and Kyzer at Berkshire Humane Society
By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
Great news, Kyzer and Cali found a home for Christmas already! Still looking for a new friend for the holidays? There are plenty of dogs and cats and small animals at Berkshire Humane who would love to go home with you.
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — There's a bonded dog pair awaiting a new family at the Berkshire Humane Society.
Kyzer and Cali are both poodles. Kyzer is the male and is 7 years old, a quite a bit bigger than his sister Cali, who is a miniature of Kyzer and 8 years old.
Canine adoption counselor Rhonda Cyr introduced us to the two.
"They came from a household that couldn't hold on to them, and it sounds like they may have been abandoned by their previous owner with somebody else, and so they came to us looking for a new home," she said.
The two love to be around you and snuggle. But both are very happy dogs.
"Kyzer is 7 years old, and his personality is that he kind of wants to be in everything. He's very loving, very snuggly, as you can tell. And Callie here, she's 8 years old, and she is kind of like the life of the party," said Cyr. "She wants to tell you everything about her day, and she's a little bit of a little ham."
The two are considered seniors and really like soft treats as Cali just had a few teeth removed and Kyzer has a tooth procedure coming up.
"Currently, they really like soft treats, because they are both on the senior side of things. So they have had some dental work, so they are really in need of something softer. They are not big chewers at this age, really, their main focus right now is just really socializing and cuddling," Cyr said.
The two would love a quiet home with someone who wants to snuggle. They shouldn't go to a home with bigger dogs but if you have a dog, you can bring them in for a visitation with the poodles to see if they will get along. Cats will be fine and the preference is for older and more responsible children so that the pups don't get hurt, as they are senior citizens.
"The perfect home for them would be a quiet home that's not too active. Like I said, they're very social, so they could handle some visitors," she said. "They're very friendly, but I don't think that they would really enjoy any other dogs in the home."
Poodles need to be regularly groomed, and the prospective adopter will have to keep an eye on their health. Kyzer has a heart murmur that needs to be monitored. This doesn't mean he is in bad health, as he could live a perfectly normal life, but he will need to be checked by a veterinary specialist routinely.
"Ideally, he would go to a home that could provide further health care with a specialist in cardiac care. And you know, he could very well live out the rest of his life comfortably and happy," Cyr said. "We just don't have all that information at the moment, but I think that you know the way he's going right now. He's got a good spirit, and he seems to be pretty happy."
The shelter is hoping the to get them a home for the holidays.
"We would love to get them a home in time for the holidays. They've been here since the eighth of November, and they're really, really looking as much as the staff loves them here, we're really looking to get them into a home and somewhere nice and cozy so they can spend the rest of their life together," she said.
Kyzer and Cali are both poodles. Kyzer is the male and is 7 years old, and a little bigger than his sister Cali, who is a miniature of Kyzer and 8 years old.
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A 700-square-foot outdoor water attraction is planned for the 2.1-acre park at 30 John Street. City officials hope to have it operational by summertime.
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Jewish Federation of the Berkshires President Arlene Schiff opened the festivities with a recognition of the victims of Sunday's mass shooting in Australia and praise for a hero who helped stop the killing.
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