Reservoir falls to its lowest level in 30 years

The water authority is asking residents to cut outdoor watering by half.

Dry grass on the banks of a low reservoir

The Kestrel reservoir, which supplies about a third of the region’s drinking water, has fallen to 41 percent of capacity, its lowest level since 1995, the regional water authority said Wednesday.

The authority asked residents to cut outdoor watering by half and said mandatory restrictions are possible if autumn rains do not arrive. “We’re not in crisis, but we are watching very closely,” said authority director Nina Sorensen.