With only 0.27” of rain earlier this week, conditions are now moderately dry.  The Pascoag Reservoir has dropped 2 inches to 8’6” and has yet to overflow the spillway.  I haven’t seen water this low in June in the 25+ years I’ve been on the lake.  Part of the reason for low water is lack of rain this spring, but the dam was closed later than it should have been due to new RIDEM regulations.  RIDEM needs to rethink dam controls to take into account drier spring conditions.  If we don’t get some heavy rain soon, water levels could drop creating dangerous conditions due to rocks, etc being exposed that normally aren’t during the summer.  That said, lower than normal water hasn’t stopped water activity as fishing, tubing and wake boarding has been popular this week.  The lawn is completely dormant in the front yard (sunniest spot) and has slowed down considerably in the back.  Local hiking trails are also very dry for June and are more like what you’d see in August.  Streams are no longer flowing.  Birds like Orioles, crows, wax wings and warblers continue to be active and we’ve been seeing the great blue heron and bald eagle occasionally.  All of the late spring flowers like rhododendrons and irises have faded with the heat and day lily buds starting to show.  Deer are active as well and mowed down our Hostas over the last couple of weeks.  George Washington state park increased the fire danger to Medium and the nearby Pachaug Forest has increased theirs to High.