Maine's Drought is Getting Worse, and Isn't Expected to Get Better Soon

By Peter McGuire

Drought is expanding in Maine and raising concerns about a second straight year of harm to agriculture, water supplies and increased wildfire risk.

Paul Styslinger, Natural Hazards Planner at the Maine Emergency Management Agency says dozens of people have reported dry wells as conditions get worse across the state.

"Just like last year, it is dry in Maine and it's getting drier," Styslinger said.

"After over the last three weeks, we've seen the U.S. Drought Monitor designate some parts of the state as being in severe drought; and we don't expect this week's rain to change that trend all that much, unfortunately," Styslinger added, referencing downpours across Maine during the first week of September.

Parts of Maine have had at least 12 inches less rain than normal over the past year. Nick Stasulis, a supervisory physical scientist a with the U.S. Geological Survey said co-chair of the Maine Drought Task Force, said groundwater levels are also at far below normal levels.

A poor snowpack and lack of rain over the last year means groundwater was unable to recharge from last year's drought, Stasulis said. Some wells in the Interstate 95 corridor between Augusta and Kittery are at record low levels.