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| Drought Update: MA at "Level 3-Critical Drought" |
Drought Update: Despite the recent rain and snow, most of Massachusetts remains in a Level 3-Critical Drought. The Cape and Islands Region have been raised to a Level 1 - Mild Drought.
Find water conservation tips here - https://t.co/cNHXAEdPFQ
Shared from -> https://t.co/Y1a9t0BqiY
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| Attention Franklin Residents and Businesses - Full Water Ban Effective Today! - Nov 20, 2024 |
Today, Secretary Tepper elevated the Western, Connecticut River Valley & SE regions to a Level 3 - Critical Drought, while a Level 3 - Critical Drought persists in the Central & NE regions.Shared from -> https://x.com/MassEcoRestore/status/1858936226989957134
Find water conservation & wildfire prevention tips here - https://t.co/cNHXAEdPFQ
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| Division of Ecological Restoration (DER) - Level 3 - Critical Drought declared |
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| alert on Local Brush Fires |
"Brush fires continue to burn across the Commonwealth, so please expect to experience the odor of smoke, and possibly a general haze, when outdoors. While it is not necessary to call 911 to report these conditions, we do ask that should you directly see any new sources of smoke or fire, please call 911 immediately and provide us with the most specific location that you can.
Please refrain from any unnecessary use of open flames outdoors, such as fire pits, and be cautious when using charcoal or gas grills.
Lastly, remember that open burning of brush is prohibited until January 15, 2025.
Thank you."
For more about the Franklin Fire Dept, visit their page -> https://www.franklinma.gov/fire-department
"The latest drought reports released Thursday show the severe drought in Massachusetts has reached a “critical” phase and is worsening, expanding beyond Greater Boston to now include central and western portions of the state, due to a lack of any significant rainfall. Rhode Island, Maine and Connecticut are also experiencing increased drought conditions.“Severe drought” conditions now exist in eight counties or about 32 percent of the state, up from 14 percent just last week, according to the US Drought Monitor.“Most stream flow rates across interior Southern New England are below normal or at their all-time lowest,” said Matthew Belk, lead meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Norton."
https://www.bostonglobe.com/2024/11/07/metro/massachusetts-drought-worsens-new-england/
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| https://www.drought.gov/states/massachusetts |
"The U.S. Drought Monitor depicts the location and intensity of drought across the country. The map uses 5 classifications: Abnormally Dry (D0), showing areas that may be going into or are coming out of drought, and four levels of drought (D1–D4). The map is jointly produced by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and National Drought Mitigation Center. Authors from these agencies rotate creating the map each week, using both physical indicators and input from local observers.This map is used by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to trigger some disaster declarations and loan eligibility. Individual states and water supply planning may use additional information to inform their declarations and actions. "
Learn more ->https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/About/WhatistheUSDM.aspx
Via The Guardian:
For years, scientists and environmental leaders have been raising alarm that the Great Salt Lake is headed toward a catastrophic decline.Now, new research points to the lake’s desiccating shores also becoming an increasingly significant source of greenhouse gas emissions. Scientists have calculated that dried out portions of the lakebed released about 4.1m tons of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in 2020, based on samples collected over seven months that year.Their study, published last month in the journal One Earth, suggests that the Great Salt Lake – which is the largest saltwater lake in the western hemisphere – and other shrinking saline lakes across the world could become major contributors of climate-warming emissions. The research also adds to a dire list of environmental consequences brought on by the lake’s precipitous decline.Last year, environmental and community groups sued Utah officials over failures to save the famous lake from irreversible collapse. In recent decades, as more and more water has been diverted away from the lake to irrigate farmland, feed industry and water lawns, a report last year estimated that the lake had lost 73% of its water and 60% of its surface area. Its decline was accelerated by global heating and a mega-drought in the US south-west.
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| The Great Salt Lake, near Salt Lake City, Utah, has lost more than 70% of its water. Photograph: Rick Bowmer/AP |
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| Franklin Garden Club |
"Without dramatic cuts to water consumption, Utah’s Great Salt Lake is on track to disappear within five years, a dire new report warns, imperiling ecosystems and exposing millions of people to toxic dust from the drying lake bed.The report, led by researchers at Brigham Young University and published this week, found that unsustainable water use has shrunk the lake to just 37 percent of its former volume. The West’s ongoing megadrought — a crisis made worse by climate change — has accelerated its decline to rates far faster than scientists had predicted.But current conservation measures are critically insufficient to replace the roughly 40 billion gallons of water the lake has lost annually since 2020, the scientists said."
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| most regions have been upgraded to lower drought levels, but drought still persists across the state |
"With the majority of the state seeing improvements, @EEASecretary declared today (10/07/22) that most regions have been upgraded to lower drought levels, but drought still persists across the state.
For the current drought status & water conservation tips: https://t.co/YA29WSXNDL or https://www.mass.gov/news/majority-of-state-received-above-average-rainfall"
FM #842 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 842 in the series.
This session of the radio show shares my "Talk Franklin" conversation with Town Administrator Jamie Hellen. We had our conversation via conference bridge.
Topics for this session
9/11 thoughts
Recap of Council meeting
Drought & water status
Work underway or pending
Economic Development Cmte, 9/21 at 6 PM
The conversation runs about 26 minutes. Let’s listen to my conversation with Jamie. Audio file -> https://anchor.fm/letstalkfranklin/episodes/Drought-Status-and-Downtown-Priorities-e1npd7i
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Franklin for All webpage
https://www.mapc.org/resource-library/franklin-for-all/
5 year fiscal outlook ->
Town budget page https://www.franklinma.gov/town-budget
Community & Cultural District calendar https://www.franklinmatters.org/p/blog-page.html
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We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) or 102.9 on the Franklin area radio dial.
This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.
How can you help?
If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors
If you don't like something here, please let me know
Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.
For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/ or www.franklin.news/
If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com
The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana" c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission.
I hope you enjoy!
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You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"
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| Town Administrator Jamie Hellen and I get to "Talk Franklin" - 09/09/22 (audio) |
FM #841 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 841 in the series.
This shares my conversation with Town Council Chair Tom Mercer. This is one of a series of conversations meant to provide a recap of the prior Council meeting. Akin to one of the many sports post-game analysis broadcasts we are familiar with in New England, this would be a discussion focused on the Franklin Town Council meeting of Sep 7, 2022:
ok, what just happened?
What does it mean for Franklin residents and taxpayers?
We cover the following key topics
8. PRESENTATIONS / DISCUSSION
a. Dean College President Kenneth Elmore J.D. and Chancellor Edward M. Augustus, Jr.
b. Discussion: Drought Conditions - Brutus Cantoreggi, DPW Director & Doug Martin, Water/Sewer Superintendent
c. Discussion: Massachusetts State Seal & Motto -> https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/8c._state_seal_motto_-_google_docs.pdf
9. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
a. Bylaw Amendment 22-883: Amendment to Water System Map, 2nd Reading (Motion to Approve Bylaw Amendment 22-883 - Majority Roll Call Vote) https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/9a._bylaw_amendment_22-883_water_map_0.pdf
b. Resolution 22-59: Cable Funds in Support of PEG Service and Programming per MGL Ch. 44, §53F3/4 (Motion to Approve Resolution 22-59 - Majority Vote) https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/9b._22-59_peg_verizon.pdf
c. Resolution 22-60: Gift Acceptance - Veterans’ Services Dept. ($3,289), Senior Center ($250), Franklin Historical Museum ($200) (Motion to Approve Resolution 22-60 - Majority Vote) https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/9c._22-60_gift_acceptance.pdf
Our conversation runs about 27 minutes:
Links to the meeting agenda and associated documents released for this meeting are included in the show notes.
Let’s listen to this session of Town Council Quarterbacking recorded Sep 8, 2022
Audio file -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-841-town-council-quarterbacking-09-08-22--------------
Meeting agenda =>
My notes ->
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Hu5l46PgJoXVhDVRme0VNqgxapTyakZC/view?usp=sharing
The meeting video is also available for viewing on YouTube
--------------
We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) or 102.9 on the Franklin area radio dial.
This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.
How can you help?
If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors
If you don't like something here, please let me know
Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.
For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/ or www.franklin.news/
If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com
The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana" c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission.
I hope you enjoy!
------------------
You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"
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"The different categories of drought actually increased across the Northeast this week with the exception of the extreme drought area which did shrink thanks to those heavy rain showers south of Boston. #Drought2022"
One of the presentations scheduled for the Town Council meeting on Weds Sep 7 is an update on the Franklin water status per the drought. The presentation is not yet posted. The Town Council agenda can be found online -> https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/agendas/september_7_2022_town_council_agenda.pdf
Meteorologist Dave Epstein tweet shared from Twitter -> https://twitter.com/growingwisdom/status/1565352398339465217
Additional maps and info can be found at Drought.gov/
The Franklin specific info can be found -> https://www.drought.gov/location/02038%2C%20Franklin%2C%20Massachusetts
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| historical info for Norfolk County |
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| Current drought conditions for Franklin, update scheduled for Town Council meeting Sep 7 |
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| Dean's mascot "Boomer" out on the lawn for major events |
The Town of Franklin has entered Level 3 Critical Drought status which has triggered the phase IV water ban which will go into effect August 6th, 2022 at 12AM.
Water Conservation Measures are needed to limit the daily demand on the water system in order to ensure that adequate water is available to meet the public health and safety needs of the Town. This measure is necessary to maintain the water levels in the tanks for fire protection and normal consumption.
The following is allowed under phase IV of the water ban...
- Watering gardens and ornamental plants by means of a hand held hose.
The following is NOT allowed under phase IV of the water ban...
- Irrigation of lawns and landscaping via sprinklers or automatic irrigation systems.
- Washing of vehicles except in a commercial car wash or as necessary for operator safety.
- Washing of exterior building surfaces, parking lots, driveways or sidewalks.
Reminder: If you have a private well for irrigation, you must a sign posted that is visible from the street in accordance with Town bylaws 179-23
Learn more about Franklin's Water Conservation measures here: https://www.franklinma.gov/water-sewer-division/pages/water-conservation?fbclid=IwAR1KokmHXP1NdxuQKcdBFvvd3GR6hWBAi_NrbH2WEjssiDhMDwl6m7_oMdA
Learn more about Massachusetts drought management here: https://www.mass.gov/guides/drought-management-in-massachusetts
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| Attention Franklin: Phase IV of Water Ban Begins August 6, 2022 at 12 AM |
