Parts of our area are seeing Extreme Drought conditions, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. How are people reacting and what effect is this having on a Somerset County tradition?
Leaves on some maple trees starting to wilt and water levels being lowered all coming from extreme drought conditions in Somerset and Bedford Counties. It’s the first time in over 20 years – since September of 2002 – that an extreme drought has been issued anywhere in Pennsylvania. This one in our area.
We spoke with someone at the Youghiogheny River Lake about their experience with the weather. Julie Pfeifer saying: “Seen a lot of creeks and rivers that are pretty dry, the lake is pretty shallow, pretty dry. I know we went hiking and tried to check out some water falls and there wasn’t a fall because there’s just been no rain really.” But she does want to see some soon. Pfeifer adding: “Definitely a little bit of rain, hopefully a couple days, but you don’t want to take up the whole summer with rain, but we do need some water.”
Jason Blocher – the Owner of Milroy Farms agrees. Blocher saying: “We see what everyone else is seeing. So, you can look at the crops, look at the cornfields and hayfields and small grains and see that they’re in dire need of moisture.” You can even see the effect on the maple trees according to Blocher. Blocher adding: “In enough of a drought at this point that we’re noticing some of the trees leaves starting to curl and leaves starting to turn brown like they would in the fall, like they would a couple months from now.”
He says it is not known exactly how this will effect the Maple Season early next year, but it’s possible the season could be shortened, less maple could be produced, or more sugar is produced.
