On February 4, after a meeting of the Commonwealth Drought Task Force, the Department of Environmental Protection returned to normal status the final counties on drought watch: Centre, Clearfield, and Clinton. Hydrologic conditions are now normal statewide.
Drought watch or warning conditions began in mid-August and expanded during the fall, affecting a total of 30 counties.
DEP bases its drought declarations on four numeric indicators. The agency gets stream flow and groundwater level data from a statewide network of gauges maintained by the U.S. Geological Survey.
In addition, DEP monitors precipitation and soil moisture. DEP also factors in information it receives from public water suppliers on their reserves and operations.
Seven suppliers in six counties continue to request or require local water use reductions as water levels recover. Those water systems are in Adams, Center, Clinton, Juniata, Northumberland and York.
Click Here to find the list of systems.
The Drought Task Force will next meet when conditions warrant.
For more information on hydrologic conditions, visit DEP’s Drought webpage.
[Posted: February 4, 2021] PA Environment Digest
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