Why did the USGS create the Pennsylvania Drought Condition Monitoring web site?
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PaDEP) relies upon a number of parameters to monitor water supply drought conditions–precipitation, stream flows, ground water levels, and the Palmer Drought Severity Index. Information on each of these parameters is collected and reported by different government agencies. When this information was needed to make water-management decisions, PaDEP had to access several sources to get the information they needed, adding time to their decision-making process. In an effort to reduce the information gathering time, the USGS was asked to create a website which combined all parameters needed to assess current drought conditions.
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PaDEP) relies upon a number of parameters to monitor water supply drought conditions–precipitation, stream flows, groundwater levels, and the Palmer Drought Severity Index. Information on each of these parameters is collected and reported by different government agencies. When this information was needed to make water-management decisions, PaDEP had to access several sources to get the information they needed, adding time to their decision-making process. In an effort to reduce the information gathering time, the USGS was asked to create a website which combined all parameters needed to assess current drought conditions.
