Water levels fall; drought fears on rise

The lawn is scorched, the saplings are shriveled, and the local ponds and streams are lower than usual.

It's not as bad as Malibu, Calif., Atlanta, or the Great Lakes, but Massachusetts is suffering from drought.

"It's a developing drought," said Linda Hutchins, a hydrologist for the state Department of Conservation and Recreation. "I'm concerned where we would be in the spring if it does continue. While it's not a real big water-supply crisis now, if we go through the winter dry and start next spring and summer like this, we're going to be sorry."

Throughout the area, even communities that restricted outside water use this summer still show signs of drought, specialists say. The consequences of scant precipitation well into next year could be shrinking water supplies for residents, industry, and agriculture, as well as forest and brush fires.

"Hopefully the situation will ease," said Kerry Mackin, executive director of the Ipswich River Watershed Association, a nonprofit working to protect and restore the chronically low watershed and river, which provides water supplies to 13 communities, including North Reading and Wilmington.

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