With only 1.1” of rain over the past month, conditions are moderately dry.  The Pascoag Reservoir has dropped to 7’6” which is about a foot lower than normal for this time of year.  The dam will be opened in about 2 weeks to lower to winter levels but most boats are already pulled as water levels are exposing rocks and boat ramp access is becoming a problem due to low water levels.  The Harrisville/Pascoag water district still has the outdoor water use ban in effect (since July!).  Lawn growth has slowed significantly over the last month and is brown in many sections.  Pine trees in the area seem to be stressed and have been dropping an abnormally large amount of brown needles recently.  Leaves on maples and birch are beginning to turn color, but colors do not seem as vibrant as usual this year.  Hiking trails at Sprague Farm in Gloucester and in the Webster Forrest are bone dry.  Normally wet spots are dry and brooks/streams have no flowing water.  NIDIS drought website shows that about 50% of RI (northwest section) is abnormally dry (D0).  The George Washington state park is still posting Medium for fire danger level.