AGENCY TESTIMONY
Introduction and downgrade of drought warning to drought watch
0:10:19
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64 sec
Deputy Commissioner Paul Rush of the NYC Department of Environmental Protection announces the downgrade of the drought warning to a drought watch. Recent rain and melting snowpack have significantly replenished the reservoirs, although storage levels are still below normal for this time of year.
- The high-pressure weather system that caused the drought has finally shifted.
- More consistent precipitation patterns are now being observed.
- This is the first drought NYC has experienced in 20 years.
Paul Rush
0:10:19
Thank you, and good morning, Chairman Gennaro, and members of the Committee of Environmental Protection, Resiliency, and Waterfronts.
0:10:27
I'm deputy commissioner Paul Rush of our Bureau of Water Supply at the Department of Environmental Protection.
0:10:33
I'm here today to discuss the ongoing drought.
0:10:36
I am also joined by chief operating officer, Catherine Mahlen, and deputy commissioner Julie Lubin from our Bureau of Environmental Compliance to discuss the pieces of legislation on the agenda.
0:10:49
As was announced yesterday, we're happy to share that the drought warning has been downgraded to a drought watch.
0:10:55
There's been significant rain and melting snowpack in the last few weeks that have significantly replenished our reservoirs.
0:11:03
While storages are still below normal for this time of year, we're in a much better place than we were a few weeks ago.
0:11:10
The high pressure weather system that has been stubbornly parked over our region has finally shifted, allowing regular storm system to come through.
0:11:19
We are now starting to see more consistent precipitation patterns.
