By Anne Levin

With October 2024 in the record books as New Jersey’s driest October in history, a statewide fire ban is now in effect. On October 17, Gov. Phil Murphy issued a drought watch, urging residents and businesses to conserve water.

It hasn’t rained locally in over a month. And there is no real end in sight.

Thursday, November 14 is the first mention of any precipitation, with “rain ending in the morning” as predicted on Accuweather.com. The next possibility is November 22, when “a morning shower followed by a little rain in the afternoon” is listed. And nothing else is predicted until December 10: “Periods of light rain.”

No outdoor fires — wood or charcoal — are permitted. And definitely no fireworks.

“This has been quite interesting to watch,” said Frank D’Amore, Princeton’s fire official. “I can’t recall anything like it this late in the year. It’s very dry out there, so we are not approving any wood or charcoal burning permits at all. You can buy fireworks in the store, but please don’t do that right now.”

While the possibility of wildfires is the main worry, the drought is also causing concern for those who maintain Princeton’s forests and natural areas. Friends of Princeton Open Space (FOPOS), which is based at the Billy Johnson Mountain Lakes Nature Preserve, is keeping a close watch on the situation.

“Due to the drought, we have postponed fall planting to the spring, and our intern team has been busy keeping nursery plants hydrated,” said Anna Corichi, director, natural resources and stewardship, in an email. “Drought conditions also pose threats to water quality and wildlife habitat [at the Preserve]. As the lake’s water levels drop, nutrients and toxins can become more concentrated, negatively impacting aquatic life; also, shallower and warmer waters could lead to an increase in algal and nuisance plant growth. FOPOS regularly monitors Mountain Lake with support from StreamWatch volunteers (organized by The Watershed Institute), FOPOS interns, and lake management professionals.”

Laurie Cleveland, executive director of The Sourland Conservancy, said her pond is the lowest she’s seen it. “I’m very

concerned about the danger of wildfire here in the Sourlands, especially considering the number of dead ash trees,” she wrote in an email.

Rob Aluck, the Conservancy’s stewardship director, echoed Cleveland’s concerns about wildfires. But barring that, he thinks the trees in the forest will survive. The Conservancy recently celebrated the planting of 50,000 trees and bushes that had been destroyed by the emerald ash borer insect.

“This is the time of year that the trees are usually pulling back the nutrients into their root systems,” he said. So I don’t think the drought will have a huge effect, unless it’s an annual issue.”

While most people think planting is best done in the spring, the Conservancy does most of it in the fall. “I think it’s the symbolism of spring being about renewal. But it actually puts a lot more stress on them because they’re putting all their energy into creating flowers and fruits and trying to establish themselves in a new environment,” Aluck said. “The forest does what a forest does. Proper leaf litter retains moisture. So they should do just fine if they are relatively established.”

But there are things people can do to care for plantings on their own properties.

“If you recently planted a tree or shrub, watering it is not a bad idea,” Aluck said. “If you have a lot of native species on your property, they’ve evolved to tolerate these kinds of low moisture conditions. It’s a matter of following what your town is saying about wasting water.”

Cleveland shared some tips to encourage readers “to give Mother Nature a helping hand,” she wrote. “Use water-conserving practices and closely follow municipal drought restriction guidelines. Provide fresh water. Keep bird baths clean and filled, and place shallow containers of fresh water on the ground. Add rocks or pebble to help prevent drowning and provide landing spots.”

The planting of drought-tolerant native plants, shrubs, and trees is encouraged. “Native plants often have deep roots that reach far into the soil,” she wrote. “These roots can access water that is deep underground, reducing the need for frequent watering. Native plants also provide critical food and shelter for local wildlife.”

Using natural mulch like fall leaves, watering plants until established, and installing backyard rain barrels to gather rainfall from the roof and store it for drier times like these are also recommended. For more tips, visit sourland.org/preserve.