Northwest Connecticut Ends 2016 in Extreme Drought Conditions

The U.S. Drought Monitor is jointly produced by the National Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, the United States Department of Agriculture, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Map courtesy of NDMC-UNL.

The drought that dominated the growing season of 2016 persists and is now categorized as an "Extreme Drought".  Little rain or snow is in the forecast so this will likely persist and could impact several wildlife habitats, especially those that rely on seasonal precipitation such as vernal pools, cold freshwater streams, and inland wetlands.  These habitats are typically influenced by melting snow and spring rains, while during "abnormally dry" or "moderate drought" seasons these habitats can be influenced by groundwater supply.  Groundwater supplies have been impacted by this drought that it leaves me to ponder the viability of these critical habitats and the wildlife populations that inhabit them during the growing season of 2017.