NEW YORK — The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) updated drought conditions across the state, returning all 62 New York counties to “normal” status and removing the November 18 announcement by Gov. Kathy Hochul that increased Sullivan, along with 14 other New York State counties, to drought warning status. 

DEC updated drought status from “drought watch” to “normal” statewide, including New York City, after assessing recent precipitation and elevated levels of ground and surface water. 

The aqueduct shutdown, a project decades-long in the making, was also halted due to the drought conditions. Read more at https://bit.ly/4fQ8jIy.

While statewide and regional hydrological conditions have notably improved, localized dry conditions may persist. Despite encouraging hydrological conditions, New Yorkers are urged to continue reducing unnecessary water use and waste, fixing leaks and choosing efficient water fixtures.

According to the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), the city’s reservoirs are at more than 75 percent capacity, with over 420 billion gallons in storage. DEC continues to work closely with DEP to monitor reservoir conditions and encourage responsible water use, especially outdoors, regardless of the hydrological conditions or season. 

Following the declaration, DEC briefed the State Drought Management Task Force and federal partner agencies. A map of New York State drought conditions is available on the DEC website, https://dec.ny.gov/.