The curb on East Bergen Place where a mysterious stream of water normally trickles unabated has gone dry. (Photo by Brian Donohue. Click to enlarge.)
By BRIAN DONOHUE
You know we’re looking at serious drought conditions when the River of East Bergen Place has gone dry. And when the Red Bank Fire Department is sending out notices that you need to cancel those fall nights around the back yard fire pit.
But such is the case as New Jersey continues to set records for consecutive days without rainfall and things get drier and drier out there.
The mysterious “River of East Bergen” flows continuously during period of normal or above normal rainfall, as in this photo from January. (Photo by Brian Donohue. Click to enlarge.)
Northern Monmouth County is classified as being in a moderate drought, with southern areas of the county and all counties south a in severe drought, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. September was one of the driest on record and the state received almost no rainfall whatsoever in October, making it the driest of any month ever recorded in the state.
In late October, the NJ Department of Environmental Protection put in place mandatory statewide Stage 3 fire restrictions, which prohibit all fires unless they are contained in an elevated stove using only propane, natural gas or electricity. No wood or charcoal fires are allowed, and the use of kerosene or gas torches of any kind is prohibited while this level of restriction is in place. The fire ban is in place on all public lands and private properties in all municipalities throughout the state.
The Red Bank Fire Department on Monday reiterated the ban with a Facebook post (pictured below) titled “Outdoor Fires Prohibited.”
The borough also issued an email alert announcing the fire ban, stating “all outdoor fires, including bonfires and residential fire pits, are strictly prohibited.”
On East Bergen Place, the drought has caused the seemingly never ending continual flow of water along the curb to go completely dry. The runoff from residents sump pumps had been a constant feature of life on the street where the water table is believed to be higher than other areas of town. Once a cause of concern and consternation, residents say they haven’t seen a trickle in months.
redbankgreen editor Brian Donohue may be reached via email at [email protected] or by calling or texting 848-331-8331 or yelling his name loudly as he walks by. Do you value the news coverage provided by redbankgreen? Please become a financial supporter if you haven’t already. Click here to set your own level of monthly or annual contribution.
