On September 2, 2021, the remnants of Hurricane EIda dropped over 5 inches of rain in less then 12 hours in Killingworth, which overwhemled the watershed that we are located within. Over 20 acres were flooded, causing berries to prematurely sever from the vines, float and then rot. The ‘bog’, with the cranberry vines growing in sand, which is kept water free, yet moist and irrigated from March through December annually, had 18″ of water over the plants, which didn’t receed for over 38 hours.
This event will further decrease the harvest volume for 2021, already hit with another excessive rain and flood on July 9, 2021. Harvest is scheduled for the last week of September.
The water flow is normally a gentle brook, 6 to 18 inches deep, that receives water from the North from several smaller streams and Hidden Lake. A large culvert under Pond Meadow Rd receives all the flow from the 20+ ‘Pond Meadow area’ acres. Despite its size, excessive rainfalls overwhelm it, causing the backup and flooding into the cranberry bog. No buildings or structures are in the bog, so the only damage is to the plants and cropland.
Bog Flooded Sept 9 2021 by Storm Ida Rain Gauge can’t hold any more… Flooded bog with over filled pond in foreground Bog Sluiceway