New York Water

The Northeast is seen as a region of abundant water resources, but rising temperatures, increased evaporation, and changes in precipitation, run-off, and stream flow could result in increased drought. The frequency of short-term (one- to three-month) droughts by late-century is projected to increase from an average of every two to three years to once every year across the Catskills, Adirondacks, and most of New England under the higher-emissions scenario, with little change under the lower-emissions scenario. This could constrain the water supply of certain cities and towns, impede irrigation, and place significant added stress on aquatic species. Increased drought frequency in the Catskills, in particular, would be of great concern to the New York City metropolitan area which draws much of its water supply from this watershed.