WESTFIELD – The drought continues to be a growing problem for several parts of Western Mass. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor’s latest report on Sept. 29, parts of Western Mass. are in an extreme drought.
Brian Lapis, a meteorologist for our media partner WWLP, has been closely following the drought in the recent weeks. As Lapis says, this is the first time in decades the Western Mass. area has had this critical of a drought.
“We have to go back to the early 80’s for a significant drought like this,” said Lapis.
Although the drought is still considered a concern, the three month outlook of Oct., Nov., and Dec., is showing that there is an above chance for rain.
“At least we’re not looking very dry,” said Lapis.
Despite the rain that is in the forecast for the coming days, a news release from the University of Massachusetts on Sept. 20 puts the true meaning of a drought in perspective.
In the news release, University of Mass. hydrologist David Boutt, discussed how a drought doesn’t just drop off.
Co-owner of Yellow Stonehouse Farm, Connie Adams, and member Joe Croteau, pose for a picture with the pumpkins in the background. (Photo by Greg Fitzpatrick)
“Droughts are multi-year events; they take some years to develop. And like the others, this one will be felt for longer than one season,” said Boutt. “When soils are so dry, even with the nice rainfall of this week, it will take time for the hydrologic system to recover.”
It isn’t just the soil that is being affected in result of the drought, as plants that have just recently been planted are also facing the consequences.
Nate Sperry, horticulture supervisor at Westfield Technical Academy, has seen problems with new plants first hand.
“Plants that are well established in the ground that have been there for years can stand prolonged periods of drought,” said Sperry. “New plantings first need to be watered on a regular basis.”
Besides teaching his students about landscape design and greenhouse management, Sperry is also a beekeeper. It is not just the plants that are being affected by the drought, as the bees have also been affected.
“In order for a plant to produce nectar, there has to be soil moisture in the ground,” said Sperry.
The drought has affected the food resources for pollinators.
“As a beekeeper, I’ve noticed a lot of impact in terms of the amount of honey that is produced,” said Sperry.
With the lack of production for bees being a problem for Sperry, too many insects and rodents have been an issue because of the drought for Connie and John Adams, co-owners of Yellow Stonehouse Farm.
The couple is the co-owners of the Yellow Stonehouse Farm on Root Rd. in Westfield. Although the Manhan River is right behind the farm, the water in the river didn’t dry up but the water level was low enough to make it a very challenging drinking source for insects and rodents.
According to Connie Adams, it was so dry out this summer and up until now that birds and rodents started to eat the wild berries and fruits that the farm offers.
Nate Sperry, a horticulture supervisor at Westfield Technical Academy, has seen the affects of the drought with new plants being planted. (Photo by Greg Fitzpatrick)
“I also think the birds and rodents were eating it as a source of moisture,” said Adams.
Adams has also seen small critters and insects eating pumpkins, watermelons, and cantaloupes. She also mentioned how she has seen chipmunks jump up and grab berries.
As it was unfortunate to lose produce, Adams can understand why it happened because the draught has had such a major impact.
“There was nowhere else to get water,” said Adams.
The incredible lack of rain has also caused the pumpkins at Yellow Stonehouse to be visibly smaller than they normally are.
“They’re probably not as big as they might have been,” said Adams.
The drought may not fully go away and the rain may help decrease the severity of the drought for the near future, but it remains to be a concern for many who are following the issue.
“Hopefully we’ll get a winter that’s like a normal New England winter and get our reservoirs built back up,” said Sperry.
For Adams, she also looks back on the winter and the lack of snowfall that the Western Mass. area had. Now the drought adds to the chaos that tends be called Mother Nature.
“This has been a year of extremes.”
