http://droughtreporter.unl.edu/

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Towns in the Champlain Valley were dealing with municipal water challenges due to the lack of rain. Moriah continued to be in a state of emergency as they await the test results from the water sent to the state Department of Health and state Department of Environmental Conservation to determine whether the water in the mine shaft could be used to supplement the water in Barlett Pond, Moriah’s reservoir. Moriah’s water supply was “crucially low” as the water level in their reservoir was just 3 feet above the intake pump, although it is usually 5 to 7 feet above it. This could be a big issue during the winter months when there is often a couple of feet of ice on the pond. Moriah’s fire department uses water from Lake Champlain for firefighting when responding to fire calls if no humans or animals are endangered and the structure is already not salvageable. If it’s an emergency, the fire department uses water from the fire hydrants. During drought in 2001, Moriah drew water from the mine shafts for 30 hours but had to stop as the water withdrawals affected the supply for an incarceration correctional facility drawing from the same source. Adirondack Explorer (Saranac, N.Y.), Oct 3, 2025 The water ban for Moriah has also been extended as the community has used about 20% less water in the week that the ban has been in place. To conserve water, the town’s car washes had all closed, and other small businesses were no longer using their sprinkler systems. The level of Bartlett Pond was stabilized after some beaver dams upstream were removed. The town supervisor hoped that water could be pumped from an old mine shaft to provide water for the town if they receive approval from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. WPTZ NBC5 Burlington (Vt.), Sep 23, 2025 Moriah was under a local State of Emergency effective immediately due to a critical situation affecting the town’s reservoir. A mandatory water ban on all indoor and outdoor water use was in place. Residents were permitted to use water for drinking, cooking and personal hygiene, while allowed commercial water uses included that for public health and safety. The entire North Country was under an ongoing drought watch as Lake Champlain dipped into near-record lows. Several area towns urged minimal water use in the coming days with no rain anticipated. The Sun (Elizabethtown, N.Y.), Sep 16, 2025