National Climatic Data Center, 13 September 2002

According to media reports (The Baltimore Sun, 8/21),

• Ground-water levels and stream flows in much of the state were falling below record lows set during historic droughts in the 1930s and 1960s.
  • "This is a drought like we've never seen," said hydrologist Wendy McPherson at the U.S. Geological Survey in Baltimore.
• Most of Maryland's population was living under state or local water-use restrictions. And as crops and pastures wilt, the governor was seeking federal disaster aid for farmers over most of the state.
• The water volume in Baltimore's three reservoirs, which stood at 53 percent of capacity when mandatory curbs were imposed on Aug. 10, had fallen to 49 percent by August 21, a level not seen at least since the 1960s, city officials said.
• Across much of the state, meanwhile, ground-water and stream levels were still falling, and residents were facing long waits for new wells to be drilled.
  • Residential wells in Carroll County were failing at 10 times the normal rate, according to county drought manager James Slater.
  • One well in Harford County last month was more than 3 1/2 feet below the record set in 1965.
  • "It's widespread and severe," said McPherson, the federal hydrologist.
• A dozen fires were burning yesterday in Dorchester, Somerset, Cecil, Charles and Frederick counties. The total since January - 640 fires burning 3,400 acres - has already exceeded the average for an entire year.