Above, you see that the WoodenBoat campus water lily pond appears to be more lily than water now. We’re still in drought conditions despite some recent good rains. Below, you’ll see a slower flowing Patten Stream emptying into Patten Bay at low tide, revealing what appear to be the green algae known as gutweed that thrives on the banks and in splash zones of tidal streams.
Dry periods seem to have become frequent in Maine, with some parts of the state experiencing unusually dry or drought conditions every year. Down East Maine is experiencing moderate drought, according to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor.
(Maine images taken in Brooklin on August 9 and Surry on August 8, 2026.)