It was a dry summer. We do not know if a record low flow was recorded because BRASS has been unable to get gauging station reports since mid-June from the U.S. Geological Survey. However, we can show you a chart that compares river volume from April to mid-June of this year to the volume during the same time period in 1993.
John Deming has a summer camp near the Lincoln Pond outflow into Black River. He reported to BRASS on September 13th that except for a five day period at the beginning of August, water has not gone over the dam during July, August, and September. "Many of the tribs may be flowing," said John, "but nothing is moving on the Black River upstream."
Sheri Amsel, the writer and illustrator who lives along the Black River near Elizabethtown said water in the river was very, very low, the lowest she has ever seen it, with little streams totally dry. "It's ironic," said Sheri, "because kids from a Plattsburgh State program came down to do a wetland walk. It was a dryland, not a wetland." Sheri reported the water is perhaps a foot high. "Normally it averages 3 feet, and during run-off is over my head."
Not only was there little snow melt from the winter season, and little rainfall during the summer, but summer temperatures this year were high. According to Cornell Cooperative Extension, Willsboro had 12 days in June over 85o F. compared to 5 days last year; 11 days in July over 85o compared to 7; and 8 days in August compared to 1 day last year.