On our property, we’ve got a stream, a brook, a pond, a shallow well, and another three-season stream that’s much smaller than the first. Since half way through July, the three-season stream has totally dried up, both the other stream and brook are all but a trickle, the pond is about three feet lower than its regular level (which is rather depressing to look at), and the shallow well is probably half its normal level. It’s got to be. I haven’t checked it this year, but if I were to go by what I’ve seen in previous years, that’s about where the water level is at this point in the season.
During the winter months, the water table in northern New England is very high. Near the surface, if I had to guess. Since we get so much snow and since it’s so cold, there’s very little evapotranspiration or water movement under the surface of the ground. From that surface down to about 36 inches, the ground is frozen solid. I was actually shocked by this during our first spring after moving to Maine. When the ground freezes like it does on our property, it heaves. And after the snow melts during April and May, those heaves become readily apparent. I remember walking along our driveway once in May, looking at an odd ground formation. I stepped on it and the dirt I stood upon collapsed about a foot down. And then as I continued to walk around, I tripped and stumbled over collapsing dirt through the entire area. While I’m sure this type of heaving has occurred every year in the same location, the phenomenon was certainly new to me.
By looking at the surface level of our pond, I would think the water table is at least six feet down. The pond water looks disgusting, like the swill at the bottom of a beer or the sludge at the bottom of a cup of coffee. Its appearance is the result of a very dry July. When Laura and I arrived in Maine in November of 2013, the pond was filled to the brim and the water was clear to the bottom, which is about five feet down. If there was a similarly dry July in 2013, a lot of precipitation must have fallen between then and November.
It’s been an extraordinarily hot and muggy summer so far. While we were teased with a wet, cool May and June, July has been a bear. Little rain has fallen and the humidity has been off the charts. Those things, along with temperatures in the 90s at times have made venturing outside rather unenjoyable. The cooler air has recently moved in though, so today is a good day. The weatherman tells me tomorrow morning at around 5am, I’ll be relaxing in a pleasant 56°. I’m looking forward to that.
Our grass is turning brown and crispy. When that happens, it’s a reminder that we’re smack in the middle of the dry season. Most often, the rains begin again in early September, but sometimes we don’t see much until mid-October. I’m not a fan of drought. I remember my days of living in Connecticut, repeatedly watering the small saplings I had planted in April. The September and October ground being solid like concrete. Once the autumn rains fell though, the ground would soften and the trees would begin their preparation for winter hibernation. At that point, at least I didn’t have to do any more watering. I hated watering the dusty ground though. I’m not sure how any of my little trees ever survived.
Western Maine isn’t technically in a drought at the moment. There are plenty of folks in our area who have shallow wells that have gone dry who would disagree, but according to the U.S. Drought Monitor, only the Portland area is abnormally dry. We seem to be in the okay zone at the moment. I’ll see how okay we are in a month.
Speaking of deer flies, while these ungodly creatures will bother a person at any time of day and in seemingly any weather, they noticeably have a propensity for swarming on sunny, hot, dry days. If the temperature is below 60°, they’re off somewhere hiding, but once the air climbs to 80° and the sun parts the clouds, beware. It seems as though deer flies and drought go hand in hand.
I have friends who enjoy nothing more than summertime hiking, swimming, and ATV riding. More power to them. I’m thrilled that they’re enjoying themselves. As for Laura and me, we’re eagerly awaiting the return of fall and winter. To be rid of the heat, humidity, and insects will be a beautiful thing.
