Water levels in the Connecticut River are unusually low for November due to a lack of rain

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WGGB/WSHM) – You could say it’s been a fall season like no other, and they’d be right, because there’s been almost no rain in western Mesa.

Western Mass News spoke with Ben Quick, executive director of the Pioneer Valley Riverfront Club, who explained that as a result, the Connecticut River appears shallower than usual in the lower Pioneer Valley.

“I’d like to say there are norms that can be circumvented, but my phrase is, ‘The new norm is that nothing is normal,'” he said. “We are currently at 0.04 feet as measured by NOAA. We expect the river to be about two to three feet deep this time of year.”

Although they finished rowing earlier this month, the last few months have really taken a toll on them.

“Typically, that would be what we would expect to see in late July or early August,” Quick claimed. “But when water doesn’t come from above, that means there’s less water below us, too. This makes the river level our primary concern when it comes to making safety decisions.”

To give you an idea of how low the water is between Springfield and West Springfield, our reporter was at the North Bridge where he was able to stay completely dry in a place that would normally be under water.

It’s a danger Quick says boaters will have to be on the lookout for if they want to spend the day on the Connecticut River.

“The current moves things, the wind can move things, trees can fall into the river, they can get stuck there and they may or may not dislodge themselves. “Unfortunately, there’s no good way to detect these things other than using the naked eye, experience and common sense,” Quick noted.

While the club won’t be in the river until the end of April, they’ll be monitoring water levels over the next few months.

For now, Quick says people should be careful and take a moment to enjoy the view.

“If you’re safe and don’t risk it, it’s a great time of year to enjoy some sights that so few people see.”