Stow Declares Level 3 Critical Drought Amid Ongoing Road Work

STOW — Stow has moved to a Level 3 Critical Drought designation, the town's most severe water-restriction alert level, even as crews keep working through a stretch of summer road and sidewalk construction on Barton Road and Crescent Street.

TOWN HALL

The town's website is now flagging a "Level 3 Critical Drought" alert at the top of its homepage, directing residents to the town's Alert Center for the specifics of the restriction. No further detail on the order was available in Thursday's town postings.

Road work is also active around town. A road closure notice is in effect for Barton Road, and construction of new sidewalks on Crescent Street got underway July 2 as part of a town sidewalk project; both notices remain posted as ongoing. Separately, the town is marking 25 years of the Community Preservation Act in Stow, highlighting the local projects the CPA has funded over that span, and has posted its July 2026 Municipal Message newsletter with monthly updates from Town Hall.

COMING UP

The Community Preservation Committee meets Monday, July 20. The Planning Board meets Tuesday, July 21. The Zoning Board of Appeals meets Thursday, July 23.