Bill Williams is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media a drought watch has been issued by the state Department of Environmental Conservation for Columbia County and four regions of New York, including Long Island, the Upper Hudson/Mohawk area, the Adirondacks and the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence area. Conditions in Columbia County and parts of Greene County are classified as a moderate drought by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. A watch is the first of four levels of state drought advisories, and can be upgraded depending on conditions, DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos said in a statement. No statewide mandatory water use restrictions have been imposed, but residents are being encouraged to voluntarily conserve water, Seggos said. Columbia County averages 44 inches of rain each year; Greene County 46 inches. So far this year, Columbia County has received just over 12 inches of rain, and Greene County just over 13 inches, a representative of the National Weather Service in Albany said. The state has issued conservation tips for homeowners to reduce water usage including: Fix dripping and leaking faucets and toilets; raise the lawnmower cutting height because longer grass needs less water; water lawns and gardens on alternate mornings and sweep sidewalks and steps rather than hosing them down. The current weather pattern will likely continue into August, according to the National Weather Service. Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.