Parts Of Charles River In 'Crisis' Due To Extreme Drought

NEEDHAM, MA — A Charles River conservation group is warning of a growing crisis along the river amid a region-wide extreme drought this summer.

The Charles River Watershed Association released new river depth readings this week showing the river has fallen to just a few inches in many areas downstream of Newton. The readings are the lowest in years — worse than a similarly severe drought over the summer of 2020.

"Compared to July 2021, water levels are extremely low, with the greatest contrast in Needham of 7.25 feet last year, and [2.4 inches] this year. This shows the dual impacts of climate change, increased precipitation and extreme drought," the association said in a series of tweets Thursday.

The river was down to 5-1/2 inches in Medfield, 3.75 inches in Bellingham and 2.4 inches in Newton, according to the group's July readings.

The U.S. Drought Monitor extended the "extreme" drought rating in Massachusetts this week, including an area from Milford — near where the Charles starts — through all of Norfolk, Middlesex and Suffolk counties.

Almost every town along the Charles has already imposed mandatory water restrictions, limiting outdoor watering to one day per week, but the Charles River Watershed Association asked residents to go one step further.

"In short, this is a crisis, and any way you can step up to conserve water is incredibly important," the group said.

See tips on water conservation from the state Department of Agricultural Resources.