ALBANY, NY (WUTR/WFXV/WPNY) -- The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation announced that 20 counties -- including Oswego and a portion of Cayuga -- are now under a Drought Watch.

“While it’s not mandatory, we’re encouraging everyone who lives in the drought watch areas to do what they can to conserve water during this dry weather," DEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton said in a statement. "DEC will continue to monitor the conditions and work with our agency partners to address these short-term issues as well as the longer-term impacts of climate change.”

The drought watch is triggered by the State Drought Index, which reflects levels of precipitation, water levels at reservoirs and lakes, and stream flow and ground water levels in the affected counties. A watch is the first of

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