{"id":142226,"date":"2025-08-13T11:14:18","date_gmt":"2025-08-13T11:14:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/142226\/"},"modified":"2025-08-13T11:14:18","modified_gmt":"2025-08-13T11:14:18","slug":"maine-river-flows-plummet-as-abnormally-dry-conditions-set-in","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/142226\/","title":{"rendered":"Maine river flows plummet as abnormally dry conditions set in"},"content":{"rendered":"

A “flash drought” in the southern half of Maine is reducing flows in some of the state’s biggest rivers. <\/p>\n

Nick Stasulis, a supervisory scientist with the U.S. Geological Survey, said that in June, levels for waterways in the Androscoggin, Kennebec, Penobscot and other river basins were overall normal. <\/p>\n

Hot and dry weather in July and the first couple weeks of August triggered a rapid drawdown in river flows, Stasulis said. <\/p>\n

“We’ve had very warm temperatures and below normal precipitation. And anytime that happens, surface waters are going to suffer,” he said. <\/p>\n

Basins that are regulated by dams are not as affected, and river levels are normal in Northern Maine, Stasulis added. Groundwater levels are also stable, he added. <\/p>\n

Real-time monitoring data from the USGS<\/a> shows that water flows, measured in discharges of cubic feet per second, range from below normal to extremely below normal across the state. <\/p>\n

The rapid onset of abnormally dry conditions across Maine fits the definition of flash drought Stasulis said. <\/p>\n

“In a month or two period where we’re seeing below normal soil moisture, lower than normal precipitation and above normal temperatures,” he said. “That’s what’s happening.”<\/p>\n

Maine has seen some sort of abnormally dryness every year for the last decade and the current river levels are far from hitting record lows, Stasulis added. <\/p>\n

Maine shifted from having almost no areas in a drought condition at the end of July, to about 35% considered abnormally dry last week, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor<\/a>. <\/p>\n

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