Drought Task Force

The Maine Drought Task Force (Task Force) coordinates drought monitoring, assessment, and response across the state. Its role is to facilitate communication and situational awareness, develop a unified assessment of drought conditions, and provide recommendations to the Governor or other relevant organizations.

The Task Force activates when abnormally dry conditions in Maine escalate. Activation is led by Task Force Chairs from MEMA and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). During active drought conditions, MEMA organizes monthly meetings to review monitoring data, track trends, and identify actions to reduce drought impacts. Observations from multiple agencies and organizations are summarized in concise reports, which are publicly available below. When dry conditions develop but do not worsen rapidly, the Task Force conducts a preliminary activation, relying on email coordination to compile its report.

During severe droughts, the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture may issue a disaster declaration to support farmers affected by crop losses. Under this declaration, the Small Business Administration provides Economic Injury Disaster Loans to eligible businesses and agricultural operations. These loans can help cover fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other essential expenses but are not intended to replace lost sales or profits.

Maine Emergency Management Agency has prepared a survey for the public to report private dry wells in the state of Maine. Data collected through these reports helps determine the scope and magnitude of private dry well conditions across the state. Please note: submitting a report is not a request for assistance. For help locating local community water resources, contact your Town or City municipal office.

MEMA Dry Well Survey

Recent Reports

View prior years reports.

Resources

 

USDA Drought Designations and Program Eligibility for Maine – Drought conditions have triggered a Secretarial disaster designation and expanded eligibility for USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) programs across the state. To file a Notice of Loss or ask about available programs, contact your local USDA Service Center.

  • Emergency Loans (Secretarial Designation): On September 11, 2026, USDA designated York County a primary natural disaster area due to drought, with Cumberland and Oxford eligible as contiguous counties. Emergency loans can be used for recovery needs including replacement of essential items such as equipment or livestock, reorganization of a farming operation, or refinancing certain debts; FSA reviews loans based on extent of losses, security available, and repayment ability. Application deadline: Monday, May 10, 2027.
  • Fast-Track Drought Designation: Extreme (D3) drought in Knox, Lincoln, Hancock, Waldo, Kennebec, Sagadahoc, and Cumberland counties has triggered a fast-track drought disaster designation, per Maine FSA.
  • Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP): Livestock producers in the D3 counties above are eligible for LFP payments. Androscoggin, Penobscot, York, Oxford, Piscataquis, and Somerset counties have reached severe (D2) drought for four or more weeks and are also eligible under the Working Families Tax Cut Act’s accelerated drought relief provisions.
  • Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish (ELAP): All Maine counties remain eligible for water and feed hauling assistance to grazed livestock in 2026.
  • Emergency Conservation Program (ECP): Many of the counties above have been approved for emergency well and water-source assistance for livestock and orchards.

Financial & Assistance Programs

Public Water & Private Well Guidance

  • Maine CDC Private Well Water - Offers guidance and technical assistance for maintaining and testing private wells, especially during drought conditions.
  • RCAP Solutions Regional Private Well Program - RCAP Solutions’ private well program, funded through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), uses a combination of online and in-person technical assistance, training, education, and resources/tools to boost knowledge and competency of individual well owners as well as thousands of private well professionals and stakeholders across the country.
  • MEMA Natural Hazards - Drought  - Water conservation tips and information about historic droughts.

Monitoring & Forecasting Tools

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