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Westwood Minute / Darlene Wong Cancell. The foreground of this photo taken on 1/26/2023 shows a gravel area of Buckmaster Pond that is flooded. During the drought, this was part of a walkable path. The path is now submerged.
The water levels in bodies of water in Westwood have visibly risen, raising the question, "Are we still in a drought?" Thankfully, for Norfolk County and the Southeast reporting region for drought status, the answer is "no."
With increased precipitation through December last year, Norfolk County and most of the state of Massachusetts has returned to "Normal" drought status. The Northeast and Cape Cod regions of the state remain in mild drought status as of mid January 2023.
The Massachusetts Drought Management Task Force, which is made up of state and federal officials and other entities, explains that rain and snow from December to January have been "well above normal and conditions are expected to continue to improve through January 2023." Except for the Northeast and Cape Cod regions, precipitation in the state in December was 1 to 3 inches above normal.
The Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs continues to encourage residents and businesses to be "extremely mindful" of overall water use, suggesting that residents and businesses consider water conservation tips even with the improved drought status. These include fixing leaks as soon as possible, considering water use habits, and changing older fixtures and appliances.
Source: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/drought-status (retrieved January 28, 2023).
