WORCESTER, Mass. - Central Massachusetts is under critical drought conditions and the effects can be seen at natural landmarks in Worcester.

Colin Novick, executive director of the Greater Worcester Land Trust, said areas like the Cascades Waterfall in the city are completely dried up. He said the amount of water changes over the course of the year, but there is almost always some water flowing. This year, it's driest he's seen it.

It's a similar situation at the Cooks Pond Dam. Novick said he's never seen the water so low, and both of these places are a reminder people should try and conserve water whenever they can.

"Since we don't know when the drought ends, we particularly want to be conserving water for the reservoirs because that water has to get us through the next bunch of months," said Novick. "So I would say though you will see ponds as you drive around Worcester it is only because there is a dam. And if you tried to find a natural brook or a natural water source this is what you're going to find and that's why you need to be concerned because this is what fills the reservoirs and the ponds and right now there is no filling."

Novick said the drought is also affecting the patterns of wildlife. They can't find brooks to drink out of in the woods, so they are venturing out to find the ponds or an alternate water source.