The state is in a drought watch for the first time since 2002

• Rhode Island’s governor has issued a statewide drought watch due to low precipitation and declining water levels.
• The state has received 13 inches less precipitation than average over the past year.
• Officials are urging residents and businesses to conserve water as the state enters the highest-demand season.

Concerns about the supply of fresh water are growing as Governor Dan McKee declared a drought watch on Wednesday and outdoor water use has been banned in some communities.

Westerly announced a ban on Friday, July 3, a few days after bans were implemented for Veolia Rhode Island water customers in South Kingstown and Narragansett.

On Wednesday, July 1, McKee issued a statewide drought watch on the recommendation of the state’s Drought Steering Committee, his office announced. It is the first drought watch for the state since 2002.

The watch followed an advisory last month, his office said. According to McKee’s office, a watch is the second of the following four progressive drought declarations: advisory, watch, warning and emergency.

According to McKee’s office, the committee recommended the watch based on “prolonged precipitation deficits extending back to June 2025, record-breaking low and steadily worsening stream flows, and rapidly declining groundwater levels across the state, with increasing dry conditions heading into the months of highest water demand.”

Summer brings highest demand for water

McKee said, “While our water supply is designed to withstand some level of drought, Rhode Islanders should be aware of the current conditions. As we head into the summer, which is the highest-demand season for water use, we strongly encourage residents and businesses to implement conservation measures now.”

Meredith Brady, chair of the Drought Steering Committee, said, “Rhode Island has received 13 inches less precipitation over the past 12 months than expected in an average year, which is having a profound impact on our groundwater aquifers.”

She said groundwater reservoir and streamflow patterns are at levels typically seen in August, not June.

BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) – Four Burlington beaches are temporarily closed to swimmers because of cyanobacteria.

North, Texaco, Blodgett and Blanchard beaches are affected.

The beaches themselves remain open, but swimming is prohibited until cyanobacteria levels drop.

Click here for the latest updates on Burlington’s Beach Closure Tracker.

You can also check the state’s Cyanobacteria Tracker for reported conditions along Lake Champlain and various inland lakes in Vermont. The map shows where cyanobacteria blooms have been reported recently, but it can’t tell you the current conditions at your favorite swimming area.

Blue-green algae has frequently foiled swimmers in our region in recent years, repeatedly forcing officials to temporarily close beaches.

The blooms are typically blue-green in color, and can make water look like pea soup or spilled paint. They feed off nutrients in the lake and can produce harmful toxins.

Exposure can pose serious health risks like skin rashes, sore throats and stomach problems. They can also be toxic to dogs and other animals.

Amid several reports that said Brown didn’t request a trade and that Boston actually thought Derrick White was the best player on the 2025-26 roster, an already motivated Brown now has an even larger chip on his shoulder after the Celtics dealt him away. ​

“The message was received,” Brown said. “I wasn’t thrilled with the amount of respect that was shown throughout this process. I think there was a bit of a lack of respect. I think it was fine at one point, then out of nowhere, things just went left. I think Brad [Stevens] is getting a lot of the criticism. I wasn’t thrilled with the way he facilitated some of the conversations.”

After the Celtics fell short in their pursuit of Giannis Antetokounmpo — Brown was the centerpiece of Boston’s trade package — Stevens was noncommittal when asked about Brown’s future in Boston.

“Jaylen Brown is a big part of us,” Stevens said. “I’m never going to predict the future, but every indication, everything that I think about over the past few years has been building around those guys, right? So obviously, you never know. But at the same time, the one thing I want to make very clear is how valued he’s always been.​​”

“He’s been amazing. He’s been an amazing teammate, a great person to be around. And whether that run ends 10 years from now when he retires, or before, there’s a lot to celebrate. We have a great relationship, an open relationship where we talk about everything. But I don’t want to predict the future. I look at it as, this is our team.”

Stevens traded Brown to the 76ers on Wednesday in exchange for Paul George, two first-round picks, and two second-round picks. The deal was widely criticized.

For Brown, the most puzzling aspect was the lack of an explanation.

“I definitely think there’s more to it,” Brown said. “I just wish that more to it could’ve been explained to me. Because I think if more to it was explained, I would’ve understood. I thought I earned the respect to get that explanation. But hey, obviously, I was wrong. That’s life. You move on.”

Brown will now join a 76ers team that, with Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid, and V. J. Edgecombe already in place, could be poised to leapfrog Boston in the Eastern Conference.

“I don’t want [any] special treatment, I don’t need no handouts … I plan on earning my respect one day at a time by putting in the work,” Brown said of playing for Philadelphia. “I’m looking forward to getting in the gym, the whole process.”

“The hard part is, the last 10 years, I’ve been programmed to hate Philadelphia. The history of the rivalry, the playoff battles … I’ve been programmed to think like, ‘[Expletive] The Process’. It’s funny, now I’ve got to reverse-engineer it. But I’ll be ready to go by the time the season starts.”

Conor Ryan can be reached at conor.ryan@globe.com.