Drought watch for area

Local farmers remain confident about crops.

By: Brian Shappell
   Below average rainfall throughout 2001 isn’t expected to have a negative impact on the 2002 growing season.
   Still, the Department of Environmental Protection is urging people to begin using conservation techniques in case of another long dry spell.
   With most of the state in a drought watch or drought warning, multiple days of rain have been long overdue, said Loretta O’Donnell, a spokeswoman for the Department of Environmental Protection. The Monroe and Jamesburg area currently is in a drought watch.
   Ms. O’Donnell said recent rainfall is not enough to make up for the precipitation shortfall.
   "We still have a ways to go because October and November were the driest they’ve been in years," she said. "We need to get at least normal rainfall through the winter and spring for the summer to be OK."
   She said the 1¼ inch of rain for the month is off the 3¾-inch pace usually expected for December.
   Locals such as Cranbury farmer Alan Danser and Monroe Township Municipal Utilities Authority Executive Director Mike Rodgers said they believe there’s no need for worry, at least for the winter months.
   Mr. Danser said crops for most local farmers are not dependent on winter precipitation but on spring and early summer rain.
   "It doesn’t matter to farmers here like it does to farmers in the Midwest because we don’t have 8 inches of topsoil to store water," Mr. Danser said. "We’re not going to benefit for the summer from anything that happens in the next three months."
   Mr. Danser also said he isn’t worried that low rainfall in 2001 will translate into low rainfall totals in the coming year as well.
   "Rainfall over the past year has been below normal, but it can always change on a dime," Mr. Danser said. "A couple days ago, it was the best rain we’ve had in months. To say a drought is imminent is something I’m not comfortable saying."
   Mr. Rodgers said conserving water won’t be difficult for Monroe for several reasons, including the fact that less water is used during the winter months.
   "The biggest thing that is conservation minded is lawn watering (instead of using sprinklers), which isn’t an issue right now," said Mr. Rodgers.
   He also said a large percentage of Monroe residents travel during the winter months, which will further reduce water use.
   "A lot of our residents go south for the winter, which brings the demand way down," Mr. Rodgers said of the "snowbird theory."
   Ms. O’Donnell admitted that central New Jersey is starting to pull out of the drought conditions despite worry over months of low levels for streambeds and ground water supplies.
   "We’re getting a lot of rain right now so the streamflow is good," said Ms. O’Donnell. "Central Jersey is in good shape. There’s an adequate water supply right now."
   Ms. O’Donnell continued to say that water conservation was important year-round because another stint of dry weather could force the state to impose water-use restrictions.
   Among the conservation tips the DEP is urging for the coming months is not letting the faucet run while shaving or brushing teeth, using a pan to rinse vegetables, taking showers instead of baths and installing faucet aerators and showerheads.
   For more information on water conservation, visit www.njdrought.org.