Name: Sandy B. Ford River Twp, Michigan UP (Zone 4b) (Zone 4b-maybe 5a)
It sounds to me as though the soil has become so dry that any water just stays on top and evaporates or runs off. I don't know what the remedy for that is - hopefully someone else here does!
“Think occasionally of the suffering of which you spare yourself the sight." ~ Albert Schweitzer C/F temp conversion