Dry out in the woods - Northern NH is in drought condition

[peakbagger]

I did a North Moat loop yesterday and was surprised how low the stream crossings were. The brook that the Red Ridge trail crosses when it drops off the ridge was flowing at the crossing but about 500 feet down the trail the channel was dry. I have noticed it at home, I have a solar pumping system to supply water for gardening made up out of leftovers that pumps out of surface well. I had to extend the suction line down farther in the well as the water table had dropped.

My guess is water sources are going to be an issue as the summer goes on.

 

[NHClimber]

The Saco in Bartlett is certainly quite low. A lot of folks who come up for their beer tubing are going to be disappointed.

 

[MikePS]

Conditions since mid April have been really dry, trails looking more like mid August. Last week I went for a swim in Echo Lake (Franconia) and was shocked how far out I could stand. Stark difference from northern Mass, essentially recovered from the drought, local lakes are full, big difference just 120 miles apart.

 

[NHClimber]

And didn’t last winter produce greater snowfall in southern NE as compared to northern NE? Felt that way but I haven’t checked the snow totals.

 

[bikehikeskifish]

May was easier than an average year w.r.t. stream crossings, for sure.

I think https://dashboard.waterdata.usgs.gov/app/nwd/?region=lower48&aoi=default tells a pretty good story. I live just below the top of the green (near Manchester, NH) and my lawn is doing OK without supplemental watering.

Tim

 

[skiguy]

That is an excellent link bikehikefish. Have been going by one of these stations on a local in town trail for years and never new about the website.

 

[Mike P.]

I'm watching two rivers near me for canoeing and the Allagash. All are below three feet as of mid-morning on Father's Day. Rain is a big key. Sorry for those on vacation in July in northern Maine, however, I'm praying for a foot of rain so I can paddle all the way to the St. John's and back to our Outfitter. (The Allagash is below 2 1/2 feet at the moment at the gauge near the town of Allagash. You can also look at past periods also.)

 

[cragway]

And didn’t last winter produce greater snowfall in southern NE as compared to northern NE? Felt that way but I haven’t checked the snow totals.

I don't know if there is any correlation but the past 5-10+ years it seemed a lot of the significant snows
would track south along the coast.....

 

[DayTrip]

Definitely dry up there. I did Glen Boulder Trail and Boott Spur last weekend. Glen Boulder trail was bone dry. Not even mud or damp spots. Don't think I've ever seen it like that at any time of year. It's always wet and muddy below tree line in there. Boott Spur had some surface water but for the most part was quite dry too. There was also very little in the way of alpine flowers too. Not sure if my timing was off or if that is a function of the lack of rain too. Other than a couple of nice patches right on Boott Spur I saw nothing. Even the grasses were dry and lacking in that golden hue they normally have.

I noticed in a few towns I travel through for work on the MA/NH border that they had water ban signs already out.

 

[DayTrip]

I'm watching two rivers near me for canoeing and the Allagash. All are below three feet as of mid-morning on Father's Day. Rain is a big key. Sorry for those on vacation in July in northern Maine, however, I'm praying for a foot of rain so I can paddle all the way to the St. John's and back to our Outfitter. (The Allagash is below 2 1/2 feet at the moment at the gauge near the town of Allagash. You can also look at past periods also.)

I did a 10 mile stretch of the Quinnebaug yesterday and it was definitely bony in spots. (USGS gauge was 299 cfs or thereabouts - 2.9 feet I think). I only actually hung up 3 or 4 times but was able to push my way over it with my hands - maybe 10-15 foot stretches. Never had to get out and walk. I "helicoptered" on some unseen boulders too but overall it was still very passable. Without some rain though that won't last very long.

 

[Vermonster]

I noticed in a few towns I travel through for work on the MA/NH border that they had water ban signs already out.

Many towns have water bans this year due to the presence of "forever chemicals" (PFAS) in drinking water. I think the EPA changed, or will change, the allowable limit and many towns are having difficulty finding the required filters due to pandemic-related shortages. I know in my brother's town in Mass they have no shortage of water, but most of the wells are offline as they are over limit and the town has been waiting for filters for months.

Coos County is very dry. Until the storms yesterday, one of my favorite fishing rivers was at the lowest level in recorded history (1940s gauge installed).