After the driest summer in 130 years, N.H. drought kicks into high gear

“We are in unprecedented, uncharted territory right now,” said Patrick Hackley, director of the New Hampshire Division of Forest and Lands

Drought continues to be severe and extreme across Northern New England.Boston Globe

CONCORD, N.H. — Private wells running dry. Local water restrictions. Lake levels down.

The effects of a statewide drought are reverberating throughout New Hampshire, as state officials have outlined the steps they’re taking to reduce risks to residents, including a statewide fire ban prohibiting any open fires.

The ban also blocks people from smoking in or near woodlands. It was approved by New Hampshire’s Executive Council this week.

“This action is necessary due to the heightened risk of wildfires caused by the ongoing drought and excessively dry conditions,” Governor Kelly Ayotte said on Wednesday.

By Thursday, the entire state was experiencing a moderate drought. About 33 percent of the state is now in an extreme drought, according to the US Drought Monitor.

“We are in unprecedented, uncharted territory right now,” Patrick Hackley, director of the New Hampshire Division of Forest and Lands, told the Executive Council Wednesday.

This summer, New Hampshire recorded its driest summer on record since 1895, setting a 130-year record. Much of the state has not seen such a bad drought in 20 years, according to the National Weather Service, sparking concerns it could persist through the winter.

With a narrow exception last week, the state hasn’t received any significant rain since July, necessitating the statewide fire ban, Hackley said.

He said campfires will still be allowed on public and private campgrounds with an appropriate and non-combustible fire ring, such as stones to contain the fire. His division has asked fire wardens to inspect campgrounds and ensure they’re meeting those specifications.

Hackley also announced that for the first time in 30 years, the US Forest Service has positioned a firefighting helicopter at the Lebanon, N.H., airport, which was chosen as a central location in case of deployment to Vermont, New Hampshire, or Maine.

“This helicopter is a beast,” said Hackley, who said it can carry up to 2,500 gallons of water or fire retardant.

Type 1 helicopters are considered the largest, fastest flying and most expensive helicopters used on wildland fires.

Hackley told the Globe the helicopter would cost $10,300 per hour if the state needed to use it. Typically it would be used for three to four hours on a single incident, he said.

Wildfires began increasing at the end of July this year, and both August and September saw above average wildfire activity, according to an Oct. 1 memo from the New Hampshire Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. Fire danger remains high in October, with fallen leaves adding potential fuel and a drop-off in humidity levels.

So far 138 acres have burned in nine months this year, outpacing the 125 acres that burned throughout all of 2024 and the 65 acres that burned in 2023. The total was higher in 2022, another dry year, when 203 acres burned.

The drought is also starting to impact drinking water supply throughout the state.

“We are starting to see, throughout the state, private wells… they’re going dry,” Robert R. Scott, commissioner of the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services, said during Wednesday’s meeting.

Residents can report a dry well to the department, which also provides guidance for households that depend on a well for water. About 40 percent of New Hampshire residents rely on a private well for drinking water, according to the department.

Around the state, 92 water systems and two municipalities have enacted water use restrictions, affecting about 196,700 people in the state, according to the department. Ninety restrictions are mandatory, and four restrictions are voluntary.

Lake levels are also down. Lake Winnipesaukee is 21.5 inches below its fullest level and about 7.9 inches below its normal level for this time of year. Squam Lake is about 17.5 inches below its fullest level.

“If we don’t see significant rainfall… and we don’t get significant snowpack in the winter, next spring will be difficult for the state,” said Scott. “So that’s what we’re watching.”